Rats with fimbria-fornix lesions can acquire and retain a visual-tactile transwitching (configural) task.
The idea that the hippocampus is essential for acquisition and retention of a transwitching (configural) problem is evaluated with a visual-tactile task. The task requires the rats to pull up a string of one of two sizes for food, as signalled by room lighting conditions. Rats received cathodal fimbria-fornix lesions either prior to or after learning the task. Rats with fimbria-fornix lesions were unimpaired in acquisition or retention. The results do not support the position that the hippocampal formation is essential for the acquisition and retention of a transwitching configural problem. The result is discussed in relation to the configural theory of hippocampal function.
Whishaw
I Q
IQ
Department of Psychology, University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.
Tomie
J A
JA
D000818:Animals; D001070:Appetitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D001245:Association Learning / Q000502:physiology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology*; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology*; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D012153:Retention, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*; D012858:Size Perception / Q000502:physiology*