Mapping midbrain sites for circling using current-frequency trade off data

Electrical stimulation applied near the medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF) produces ipsiversive circling. In this experiment we examined the spatial and temporal properties of this substrate in rats by determining the current required to produce a constant amount of circling at frequencies from 15 to 500 Hz. In general, when frequency was high, the required current was low and vice versa, but there were deviations from a reciprocal relationship. Frequencies above 200 Hz failed to reduce the current needed to reach criterion. Electrodes placed distant from the MLF required more current, and deviated from reciprocity in a systematic way. A geometric model of the overlap between substrate and stimulation field is proposed that allows estimation of spatial properties of the two regions: (1) the location of the center of the substrate for circling (0.7 mm lateral, 7.0 mm below dura in the coronal plane 1.0 mm posterior to ear bars); (2) the radius of the substrate (0.77 mm); and (3) the radius of excitation at each current. Current-frequency trade off data can provide an in vivo estimate of the behavioral effectiveness of a given electrode, and hence its placement relative to a behavioral substrate.