Strength-duration analysis of the organization of reinforcement pathways in the medial forebrain bundle of rats.
Strength-duration curves were determined for electrical self-stimulation of the brain in rats implanted with lateral hypothalamic electrodes. The rats self-stimulated in different behavioral situations which required them to make different responses, and the parameters of the strength-duration curves determined in each situation were compared. The comparisons suggested that two distinct groups of neurons were involved in the mediation of brain stimulation reinforcement of the bar pressing response, and that one of these groups was primarily involved in mediating the reinforcement of an alley running response, while the other group primarily mediated the reinforcement of a responses suggested that the nature of the response a rat is response a rat is required to perform determines the exact combination of neurons from the two groups which participate in mediating the brain stimulation reinforcement of the task. The possible functional significance of these two neuron groups was discussed.
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D002907:Chronaxy; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000502:physiology; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D013997:Time Factors