Inhibition of muricide by septal stimulation in rats

At current levels below those eliciting a motor response, complete and consistent inhibition of muricide occurred during stimulation at 12 of 21 loci within the septum. Septal muricide-inhibitory stimulation (MIS) was not followed by overt or electrographic seizure activity. Septal MIS had no significant effect on the acceptance of chocolate chips but did increase drinking latency in 48 hr water-deprived rats. MIS significantly reduced time spent in the stimulated side of a shuttlebox, suggesting that long-duration MIS may be somewhat aversive. The septum is anatomically related to other areas implicated in aggression inhibition; these systems may function in either the unlearned or learned inhibition of rats' muricide occurring in certain behavioral situations.