Don Pfaff - "Quantification of behaviors related to generalized brain arousal"

Recording of the speaker's talk at the Barcelona Brain and Technology Summer School, September 2012. Listen also to an interview with this and other speakers at www.csnetwork.eu/podcast.

"Generalized brain arousal is the most powerful, elementary and essential function of the vertebrate brain.  We have a concept, an assay and some of its mechanisms (Pfaff et al, TINS, 2012).  Using 32 computer-controlled assays we use quantitative methodologies to discern its properties, and come up with a surprising conclusion about its power law distribution (Proekt et al, PNAS, 2012).  We also can relate sexual arousal to generalized brain arousal (e.g.  Schober et al, Hormones and Behavior, 2011)."