Insular cortex and amygdala lesions differentially affect acquisition on inhibitory avoidance and conditioned taste aversion.
These experiments examined the effects of NMDA-induced lesions of the amygdala and insular (gustatory) cortex (IC) on inhibitory avoidance learning and conditioned taste aversion (CTA) in rats. IC lesions, but not amygdala lesions, disrupted CTA. In contrast, lesions of either brain region disrupted inhibitory avoidance learning. These findings support the view that the IC is strongly involved in the acquisition of external as well as visceral aversively motivated behavior. Despite extensive functional interconnections, these 2 brain regions appear to have different roles in mediating different forms of aversively based learning.
Bermudez-Rattoni
F
F
Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine 92717.
McGaugh
J L
JL
D000679:Amygdala / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002712:Chlorides / Q000494:pharmacology; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects; D004327:Drinking Behavior; D008094:Lithium / Q000494:pharmacology; D018021:Lithium Chloride; D008297:Male; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013649:Taste
D002712:Chlorides; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D008094:Lithium; D018021:Lithium Chloride