Self-stimulation of a hypothalamic site in response to tension or fear

Rhesus monkeys with chronic electrodes implanted at self-stimulation sites barpress faster for stimulation at a hypothalamic site in the presence of a feared snake, but do not press faster for stimulation from locus ceruleus. In the presence of a dominant monkey, they barpress for hypothalamic stimulation in response to strong dominance behaviors, in response to intense play-wrestling initiated by the dominant monkey, and just before they themselves initiate play-wrestling. The fear-reducing effect of this self-stimulation site thus appears to be easily incorporated into the ongoing social context.