A further analysis of the response suppression during stimulation of the septal area in the rat.
It was found that during low-frequency electrical stimulation of either the septal medial or lateral nucleus suppression of an operant response can occur without a stimulation-induced reward or aversion effect. Further, the behavior of rats during response suppression appeared to be the same as when they stopped responding without stimulation. These observations suggest that response suppression to low-frequency stimulation of the septal area is not due to production of some disruptive factor. In addition, as reported earlier with low-frequency stimulation of the prefrontal cortex, stimulation of the septal area produces the strongest suppression of learned or unlearned responses that require the greatest effort. These data, along with the anatomical relationship between the septal area and the prefrontal cortex, are consistent with the hypothesis that the inhibitory influence of the septal area is mediated at least in part by way of the prefrontal cortex.
Wilcott
R C
RC
Department of Psychology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106.
D000818:Animals; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D012686:Septal Nuclei / Q000502:physiology*