Multiple unit activity recorded from amygdala central nucleus during Pavlovian heart rate conditioning in rabbit.

Using a Pavlovian heart rate conditioning paradigm, a rapid development of short latency increases in the multiple unit activity of the amygdala central nucleus were observed in response to a tone conditioned stimulus. In some cases the increase in multiple unit response showed a parallel development with the conditioned decelerative heart rate response and were significantly correlated with it. These results suggest a direct role for the central nucleus in the expression of conditioned heart rate responding in rabbit.