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.
Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
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Robertson
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Laferrière
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*