Retention of choice behavior in rats following mammillothalamic tractotomy

E. E. Krieckhaus; Edgar E. Coons; Thomas Greenspon; Jay Weiss; Richard L. Lorenz

doi:10.1016/0031-9384(68)90042-5

Retention of choice behavior in rats following mammillothalamic tractotomy

E. E. Krieckhaus, Edgar E. Coons, Thomas Greenspon, Jay Weiss, Richard L. Lorenz

Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

In Experiment 1 mammillothalamic tract (MTT) lesions in rat produced no change in the performance of a preoperatively acquired contingent (successive) brightness discrimination motivated by hunger. Freezing, assessed in an unavoidable shock situation, and passive avoidance were also unaffected. In Experiment 2 comparable MTT lesions produced significant (p < 0.03) decrements in retention of shock avoidance behavior, yet had no effect on choice behavior once the rat started running. Thus, it appears that the effect of mammillothalamic tractotomy on avoidance behavior is not attributable to a direct increase in freezing or to a loss in the retention of the ability to make difficult discriminations per se.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	125-131
Number of pages	7
Journal	Physiology and Behavior
Volume	3
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9384(68)90042-5
State	Published - Jan 1968

Keywords

Active avoidance
Choice behavior
Freezing
Limbic system lesions
Mammillothalamic tract
Passive avoidance

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Behavioral Neuroscience

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10.1016/0031-9384(68)90042-5

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title = "Retention of choice behavior in rats following mammillothalamic tractotomy",

abstract = "In Experiment 1 mammillothalamic tract (MTT) lesions in rat produced no change in the performance of a preoperatively acquired contingent (successive) brightness discrimination motivated by hunger. Freezing, assessed in an unavoidable shock situation, and passive avoidance were also unaffected. In Experiment 2 comparable MTT lesions produced significant (p < 0.03) decrements in retention of shock avoidance behavior, yet had no effect on choice behavior once the rat started running. Thus, it appears that the effect of mammillothalamic tractotomy on avoidance behavior is not attributable to a direct increase in freezing or to a loss in the retention of the ability to make difficult discriminations per se.",

keywords = "Active avoidance, Choice behavior, Freezing, Limbic system lesions, Mammillothalamic tract, Passive avoidance",

author = "Krieckhaus, {E. E.} and Coons, {Edgar E.} and Thomas Greenspon and Jay Weiss and Lorenz, {Richard L.}",

note = "Funding Information: Whis research was supported by Grant MY-2949 to Yale University from the National Institute of Mental Health and by Grant HD-02621 to the University of California at Davis from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The results of this study have been presented earlier in a summary fashion in a paper delivered by the senior author at the Polish Physiological Congress at Lublin, Poland, September, 1966. aDepartment of Poultry Husbandry, University of California, Davis, California. aNew York University. *University of Illinois. IRockefeller University. *Georgetown Medical School, Washington D.C.",

year = "1968",

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doi = "10.1016/0031-9384(68)90042-5",

language = "English (US)",

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AU - Krieckhaus, E. E.

AU - Coons, Edgar E.

AU - Greenspon, Thomas

AU - Weiss, Jay

AU - Lorenz, Richard L.

N1 - Funding Information: Whis research was supported by Grant MY-2949 to Yale University from the National Institute of Mental Health and by Grant HD-02621 to the University of California at Davis from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The results of this study have been presented earlier in a summary fashion in a paper delivered by the senior author at the Polish Physiological Congress at Lublin, Poland, September, 1966. aDepartment of Poultry Husbandry, University of California, Davis, California. aNew York University. *University of Illinois. IRockefeller University. *Georgetown Medical School, Washington D.C.

PY - 1968/1

Y1 - 1968/1

N2 - In Experiment 1 mammillothalamic tract (MTT) lesions in rat produced no change in the performance of a preoperatively acquired contingent (successive) brightness discrimination motivated by hunger. Freezing, assessed in an unavoidable shock situation, and passive avoidance were also unaffected. In Experiment 2 comparable MTT lesions produced significant (p < 0.03) decrements in retention of shock avoidance behavior, yet had no effect on choice behavior once the rat started running. Thus, it appears that the effect of mammillothalamic tractotomy on avoidance behavior is not attributable to a direct increase in freezing or to a loss in the retention of the ability to make difficult discriminations per se.

AB - In Experiment 1 mammillothalamic tract (MTT) lesions in rat produced no change in the performance of a preoperatively acquired contingent (successive) brightness discrimination motivated by hunger. Freezing, assessed in an unavoidable shock situation, and passive avoidance were also unaffected. In Experiment 2 comparable MTT lesions produced significant (p < 0.03) decrements in retention of shock avoidance behavior, yet had no effect on choice behavior once the rat started running. Thus, it appears that the effect of mammillothalamic tractotomy on avoidance behavior is not attributable to a direct increase in freezing or to a loss in the retention of the ability to make difficult discriminations per se.

KW - Active avoidance

KW - Choice behavior

KW - Freezing

KW - Limbic system lesions

KW - Mammillothalamic tract

KW - Passive avoidance

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Retention of choice behavior in rats following mammillothalamic tractotomy

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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