title: Participation of thalamic nuclei in the acquisition of conditioned avoidance reflexes in rats. IX. Lesions of the nucleus reticularis.
abstract: Bilateral symmetric lesions of the anterior part of the nucleus reticularis thalami (RET) strongly reduced the preoperatively learnt avoidance responses in Long-Evans hooded rats. A great retention loss, significantly prolonged reaction times and slow incorrect escape reactions in the first postoperative session in a simple runway task were corrected in the relearning period. The relearning of directional change and of a 2:2 alternation schedule in the Y-maze was rather difficult; it delayed and remained on a lower performance level with a not correctable side preference. A great retention loss in the pole-climbing test was not compensated in the relearning period. The experimental data suggest that the RET plays an important role in the inhibition of incorrect responses.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning; D003214:Conditioning, Classical; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000293:injuries; D051381:Rats; D013787:Thalamic Nuclei / Q000502:physiology*