Disruption of the connections between the mediodorsal and sulcal prefrontal cortices alters the associability of rewarding medial cortical stimulation to place and taste stimuli in rats.
This study involved 2 tests of conditioned reward with self-stimulation (SS) of the prefrontal cortex. In Experiment 1, rats were tested for a conditioned taste preference (CTP) induced by pairing a novel flavor with SS of the medial prefrontal cortex (MC). Normal rats displayed a CTP. Rats with bilateral cuts of the connections between the MC and sulcal prefrontal cortex (SC) did not show a CTP. In Experiment 2, similar cuts had no effect on the ability of SC SS to promote a CTP, showing that the cuts spare the ability to learn a CTP. In Experiment 3, rats were tested for a conditioned place preference by pairing MC SS with environmental cues. Lesioned rats, but not intact rats, had a CPP. Results suggest the presence of prepotent relations, dependent on intrinsic prefrontal connections, between the rewarding effects of prefrontal stimulation and distinct sensorimotor domains.
Robertson
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Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Laferrière
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D000818:Animals; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D001245:Association Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000502:physiology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology*; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation / Q000502:physiology*; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012653:Self Stimulation / Q000502:physiology*; D012931:Social Environment; D013649:Taste / Q000502:physiology*