Differential effects of lesions of the dorsomedial and dorsolateral caudate-putamen on reaction time performance in rats.
In order to investigate the role of the dorsomedial and dorsolateral caudate-putamen (CPu) in movement initiation of rats, we examined the effects of quinolinic acid lesions (30 nmol in 1 microliter) in these striatal subregions in a simple reaction time task. Results show that lesions of the dorsomedial, but not of the dorsolateral CPu increased reaction times. These findings provide further evidence for a functional heterogenity of the CPu and demonstrate an involvement of the dorsomedial CPu in processes related to rapid initiation of responses.
Hauber
W
W
University of Tübingen, Department of Neuropharmacology, Germany.
Schmidt
W J
WJ
D000818:Animals; D001070:Appetitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002421:Caudate Nucleus / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D011699:Putamen / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*