| Septal area | |
|---|---|
 Lateral and medial septal nuclei in the septal area of the mouse brain | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | nuclei septales |
| MeSH | D012686 |
| NeuroNames | 259 |
| TA98 | A14.1.09.266 |
| TA2 | 5548 |
| FMA | 61845 |
| Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy | |
The septal area (medial olfactory area), consisting of the lateral septum and medial septum, is an area in the lower, posterior part of the medial surface of the frontal lobe, and refers to the nearby septum pellucidum.
The septal nuclei are located in this area. The septal nuclei are composed of medium-size neurons which are classified into dorsal, ventral, medial, and caudal groups.[1] The septal nuclei receive reciprocal connections from the olfactory bulb, hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus, midbrain, habenula, cingulate gyrus, and thalamus. The septal nuclei are essential in generating the theta rhythm of the hippocampus.
The septal area (medial olfactory area) has no relation to the sense of smell, but it is considered a pleasure zone in animals. The septal nuclei play a role in reward and reinforcement along with the nucleus accumbens. In the 1950s, Olds & Milner showed that rats with electrodes implanted in this area will self-stimulate repeatedly (e.g., press a bar to receive electric current that stimulate the neurons).[2] Experiments on the septal area of humans have taken place since the 1960s.[3][4][5][6]
- ^ St-Amant, Maxime. "Septal nuclei | Radiology Reference Article | Radiopaedia.org". Radiopaedia. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ Olds J, Milner P (1954). "Positive reinforcement produced by electrical stimulation of septal area and other regions of rat brain". Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology. 47 (6): 419–27. doi:10.1037/h0058775. PMID 13233369. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
- ^ Heath RG (1963). "Electrical self-stimulation of the brain in man". The American Journal of Psychiatry. 120 (6): 571–577. doi:10.1176/ajp.120.6.571. ISSN 0002-953X. PMID 14086435.
- ^ Moan CE, Heath RG (1972). "Septal stimulation for the initiation of heterosexual behavior in a homosexual male". Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry. 3 (1): 23–30. doi:10.1016/0005-7916(72)90029-8. ISSN 0005-7916.
- ^ Szalavitz, Maia. "Controversial Surgery for Addiction Burns Away Brain's Pleasure Center". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ Zamiska, Nicholas (28 April 2008). "China Bans Irreversible Brain Procedure". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 4 May 2018.