Sentence:  A <WSD>state</WSD> of parasympathetic `` tuning '' of the hypothalamus induced experimentally causes not only an increase in the parasympathetic reactivity this structure to direct and reflexly induced stimuli , but leads also to an autonomic reversal : a stimulus acting sympathetically under control conditions elicits in this state of tuning a parasympathetic response ! 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  the way something is with respect to its main attributes