Sensory evoked potentials in the hypothalamus of the rat

Sciatic, acoustic and photic evoked potentials were recorded in the hypothalamus in rats under urethane anaesthesia. While the sciatic and acoustic responses were of short latency and had a short neuronal recovery, the photic responses were of long latency and their recovery was prolonged. The evoked potentials in the lateral hypothalamus were of shorter latency than those recorded in the medial regions. The possible neural pathways involved in the mediation of the sensory impulses to the hypothalamus are discussed.