Impact of generalized brain arousal on sexual behavior.

ABSTRACT: Although there is an extensive amount known about specific sensory and motor functions of the vertebrate brain, less is understood about the regulation of global brain states. We have recently proposed that a function termed generalized arousal (Ag) serves as the most elemental driving force in the nervous system, responsible for the initial activation of all behavioral responses. An animal with increased generalized CNS arousal is characterized by greater motor activity, increased responsivity to sensory stimuli, and greater emotional lability. Implicit in this theory was the prediction that increases in generalized arousal would augment specific motivated behaviors that depend on arousal. Here, we address the idea directly by testing two lines of mice bred for high or low levels of gener

SUBMITTER: Weil ZM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2836695 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature