Bradycardia induced from stimulation of the left versus right central nucleus of the amygdala

Studies have demonstrated that the predominant effect of stimulation of the central nucleus of the amygdala is one of heart rate deceleration. Anatomical studies have shown that projections from the central nucleus to the cardioinhibitory neurons in the medulla are ipsilateral and that projections of the left or right vagal efferents to the heart innervate different nodal points. The results of this study suggest that stimulation of the central nucleus of the amygdala from either the left or right hemisphere produced similar increases in heart period. These results are discussed in terms of the effects of the localization of epileptic foci in the temporal lobes on the cardiovascular system. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.