A response-specific conditioned aversion to rewarding hypothalamic stimulation in rats.
Rats with hypothalamic electrodes were trained to self-stimulate by nose-poking and by licking at a dry spout. Separate groups of animals were then exposed to pairings of either self-stimulation by licking or by nose-poking with the subsequent administration of LiCl. The licking/LiCl pairing group exhibited a marked attenuation of licking maintained by hypothalamic stimulation on the first retention trial (24 h post LiCl). This effect was enhanced by a further licking/LiCl pairing. In a final cross-over trial with this group, nose-poking maintained by stimulation at the same site and intensity was found to be unaffected. With another group of animals nose-poking/LiCl pairing had no effect on self-stimulation, despite two conditioning trials. In a final cross-over trial with this group licking maintained by stimulation of the same site and intensity was also unaffected. These data indicate that the sensory properties of brain stimulation may be dependent on the behavioural context in which the stimulation occurs.
Greenshaw
A J
AJ
Aleksanyan
Z A
ZA
Kundu
S N
SN
Brácha
V
V
Bures
J
J
D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002712:Chlorides; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D007026:Hypothalamic Area, Lateral / Q000502:physiology*; D008094:Lithium; D018021:Lithium Chloride; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D012201:Reward; D012653:Self Stimulation / Q000502:physiology*; D013649:Taste / Q000502:physiology*
D002712:Chlorides; D008094:Lithium; D018021:Lithium Chloride