Social stress increases [14C]2-deoxyglucose incorporation in three rostral forebrain areas of the young chick

The 2-deoxyglucose method and EEG-recordings were used to compare forebrain activities between socially reared chicks, one remaining in the group the other being separated with preserved visual and auditory contact. During 30% of the test period, separated chicks produced distress calls and showed a typical EEG arousal pattern. The 9 Hz band of the EEG spectrum and the duration of distress calling were found to be significantly different from grouped chicks. Increased 2-deoxyglucose incorporation were found in 3 rostral forebrain areas of separated chicks, namely the hyperstriatum accessorium/hyperstriatum dorsale, the lateral neostriatum/hyperstriatum ventrale and the medial neostriatum/hyperstriatum ventrale. These same areas were previously reported to increase metabolic activity in imprinted Guinea fowl chicks, when they heared the imprinting stimulus during the 2-deoxyglucose experiment. It is argued that high metabolic activity in these areas reflects arousal and attention to relevant auditory or visual stimuli.