Electrical stimulation of the amygdala increases the amplitude of elicited ponto-geniculo-occipital waves.

The amygdala projects massively via its central nucleus (CNA) into brain stem regions involved in alerting and ponto-geniculo-occipital (PGO) wave generation. Electrical stimulation of CNA is known to enhance the acoustic startle response (ASR) and influence spontaneous PGO waves. The role of the amygdala in the modulation of ASR and elicited PGO waves (PGOE) was investigated in albino rats. Electrically stimulating CNA within 25 ms prior to an auditory stimulus enhanced ASR and PGOE amplitude in a similar way, with the largest response occurring when the electrical and auditory stimuli were given simultaneously. The data suggest that CNA modulates alerting mechanisms.