Diencephalic sites from which calling can be evoked with small currents in Japanese quail.

A systematic stimulation survey f the diencephalon in Japanese quail, showed that calling could be evoked with currents as low as in the midbrain (less than 50 microA). These low threshold areas were located in the pre-optic area and posterior hypothalamus. Both are likely to influence output, but are not on a calling motor pathway from the forebrain. Putative pathways for calling had somewhat higher thresholds, than the preoptic area and posterior hypothalamus. Calling was evoked from much of the diencephalon with currents up to 200 microA, but positive sites tended to be located posteriorly. A few of the calls elicited resembled natural calls subjectively, but statistical analyses showed significant differences. Most elicited calls were unlike any spontaneous call and could be produced in both sexes.