A comparison of hypothalamically induced biting attack with natural predatory behavior in the cat.

A comparison of biting attack induced by electrical stimulation of the cat hypothalamus with natural feline predatory attack revealed a high degree of similarity between the two behaviors. All major components of natural attack could be elicited by hypothalamic stimulation in cats not showing spontaneous attack, including stalking approach to prey, holding and pinning of the prey with forepaws, biting directed to the head and neck, prey kicking, prey carrying, and prey eating. Differences between natural and elicited attack appeared to be related to the range of completenes of elicited attack, the greater intensity of elicited attack, and the presence of unrelated responses induced by hypothalamic stimulation. Results support the view that hypothalamic stimulation facilitates sensorimotor mechanisms for separate response components, which are highly sensitive to specific stimulus features of the environment and potential goal objects.