Photothrombotic lesions of the frontal cortex impair the performance of the delayed non-matching to position task by rats.
The effects of photochemically induced lesions of the frontal cortex on the short-term memory capacity of the rat have been investigated using the delayed non-matching to position task. Pretrained animals received lesions and were tested 4 days after surgery and twice per week for 3 weeks. The lesions produced a profound impairment of performance of this task which was still evident 3 weeks after surgery. Spontaneous locomotor activity was recorded 7 days after surgery and no difference was found between the control and lesion group. These effects indicated a generalized disruption of performance of this task in the absence of motor dysfunction. These results suggest that photothrombotic lesions of the frontal cortex can produce reliable, long-term behavioural deficits.
Rogers
D C
DC
SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, Harlow, UK.
Wright
P W
PW
Roberts
J C
JC
Reavill
C
C
Rothaul
A L
AL
Hunter
A J
AJ
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000502:physiology*; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D051381:Rats; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000523:psychology*