BLA-BNST neurons are more excitable and have smaller AHPs in males. A, Representative traces of BLA-BNST neuron firing in response to a range of depolarizing current steps recorded from male (top) and female rats (bottom). B, BLA-BNST neurons recorded from males (N = 11 neurons, white) are more excitable than adjacent unlabeled BLA neurons (N = 11 neurons, black; left; p = 0.018, F(1,140) = 5.749, two-way ANOVA) and have smaller IAHP amplitude (right; p = 0.001, F(1,28) = 15.44, N = 8 neurons/group, two-way ANOVA). C, BLA-BNST neurons recorded from females (N = 8, white) are less excitable (left) compared with adjacent BLA neurons (N = 8, black; p = 0.028, F(1,98) = 5.0, two-way ANOVA) and show larger IAHP amplitude (right, p = 0.015, F(1,22) = 7.0, N = 6 or 7 neurons/group, two-way ANOVA).