title: Habituation and retention of the head-shake response: lack of impairment by nucleus basalis magnocellularis lesions.
abstract: Bilateral ibotenic acid lesions of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM) were examined on the habituation and retention of the head-shake response (HSR). HSR, a rapid, stereotyped rotation of the head about a front-to-rear axis, was elicited by a stream of mildly pressurized air directed at the ear in Fischer 344 rats. HSR training consisted of 40 stimulated trials followed by a 30-min retention test of 20 stimulated trials. Stimulus duration was 15 sec per trial with a 15-sec intertrial interval. Frontal cortex choline acetyltransferase was reduced by 22% in the NBM-lesioned group compared to the controls. The NBM-lesioned rats and the controls were not significantly different on either frequency or latency measures of HSR habituation or retention. The results do not support a role for cortical cholinergic mediation of the HSR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Fairfield University, CT 06430.
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Dokla
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Thal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic / Q000502:physiology*; D006257:Head; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D009847:Olivary Nucleus / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D012153:Retention, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase