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How does stimulation of the cat thalamus affect hiding behavior?
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Avoidance behaviour
Cat fleeing by upward climbing.
Stimulation of the thalamus in cats triggers specific fleeing movements that characterize avoidance behaviour. When these sites are electrically stimulated, the animal exhibits a range of defensive actions, including crouching, looking around, moving, and slinking close to the floor, which culminates in the cat attempting to hide if possible.1
This response is distinct from the fleeing behavior produced by stimulating hypothalamic sites, which typically involves continuous movement and upward climbing. These findings suggest that different patterns of avoidance, such as active fleeing and passive hiding, are coordinated by separate mechanisms within the brain.1