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S Velamati

Publications and source records attributed to S Velamati.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Limbic system seizures and aggressive behavior (superkindling effects).

This study was done to further analyze the neural mechanisms underlying aggressive behavior associated with psychomotor or temporal lobe seizures. The studies revealed that superkindling the aggressive system by sequential stimulations at seizure-inducing thresholds, of two or more sites in the limbic, hypothalamic, and basal ganglia structures facilitated the production of aggressive seizures. Aggressive behavior in the freely moving cat was evaluated in relation to the occurrence of hissing and growling during stimulation, after-discharge and postictal period. The behavior was correlated with the frequency of the elicited seizures and the seizure durations. Aggression did develop as a component behavioral manifestation of the limbic (psychomotor) seizure. Development of aggressive seizures was facilitated by "priming" the aggressive system. Optimum levels of aggressive behavior occurred with seizures of medium duration. Catecholamine blockers tended to attentuate the occurrence of aggression, whereas the agonist tended to facilitate it. Once the aggressive system was rendered hyperexcitable, exteroceptive stimuli also evoked aggressive attack behavior. It was concluded that repeatedly recurring limbic system seizures through superkindling mechanisms can eventually render the limbic-basal ganglia-preoptico-hypothalamic aggressive system hyper-responsive to both recurring seizures and to exteroceptive stimuli with resulting aggressive behavior with or without an accompanying seizure.

Aggression↗

Limbic stimulation-induced hypersexuality. Levels of sexual drive.

Postictal sexual drive levels induced by limbic discharges were studied in eight adult male cats. Although sexual drive was exclusively dependent upon the presence or absence of testosterone, the level or degree of drive was dependent on the relative amounts of circulating testosterone and catecholamines in addition to the bioelectric state of the testosterone-binding cells. The limbic discharge was thought to induce postictal hypersexuality by its propagated discharge, suppressing the association neocortex and simultaneously activating the sexual hormone-binding cells of the diencephalon. The dissociation of the neocortex from the diencephalon was considered as a functional postictal diaschisis. These postictal physiologic changes were thought to account for the irrational automatic behavior and memory loss characteristic of patients with psychomotor seizures.

Aggression↗