Footshock stress facilitates self-stimulation of the medial prefrontal cortex but not the lateral hypothalamus in the rat.
The effects of stress on self-stimulation were investigated by exposing rats to either controllable, uncontrollable or no footshock. Both controllable and uncontrollable footshock increased medial prefrontal cortex self-stimulation rates immediately as well as 24 h following treatment. Controllable footshock produced a greater enhancement than uncontrollable footshock. In contrast, self-stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus was unaffected by either footshock treatment. These results are interpreted with reference to the neurochemical response of the mesocortical dopaminergic system to acute stress.
Department of Psychology, University of Sydney, N.S.W., Australia.
I S
IS
McGregor
B W
BW
Balleine
D M
DM
Atrens
D000818:Animals; D004597:Electroshock; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007026:Hypothalamic Area, Lateral / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011930:Reaction Time; D012653:Self Stimulation; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000503:physiopathology*