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Tonic Immobility as a Model of Extreme States of Behavioral Inhibition

Issues of Methodology and Measurement

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Motor Activity and Movement Disorders

Part of the book series: Contemporary Neuroscience ((CNEURO))

Abstract

Tonic immobility (TI) (also commonly known as “animal hypnosis,” “immobility reflex,” and “contact defensive immobility”) is a profound, but easily reversible condition of response inhibition found in a wide variety of different species, including various insects, crustacea, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals (for reviews, see Gallup, 1974a; Jones, 1986). Figures 1 and 2 depict chickens exhibiting the TI reaction.

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Gallup, G.G., Rager, D.R. (1996). Tonic Immobility as a Model of Extreme States of Behavioral Inhibition. In: Sanberg, P.R., Ossenkopp, KP., Kavaliers, M. (eds) Motor Activity and Movement Disorders. Contemporary Neuroscience. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-469-6_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-469-6_2

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