Figure 5.15: Method for making lesions in or stimulating a rat’s brain A stereotaxic instrument (left) is used to insert an electrode into a precise location in the anesthetized (unconscious) animal’s brain (right). To produce a lesion, an electric current that is strong enough to destroy neurons near the tip is sent through the electrode, and then the electrode is removed. To prepare the animal for electrical brain stimulation, the electrode is cemented in place so that it can be stimulated through wire leads during behavioral tests after the animal has recovered from surgery.