Lesions of the lateral parabrachial nuclei disrupt aversion learning induced by electrical stimulation of the area postrema.
The research about the neural basis of taste aversion learning (TAL) has pointed out the area postrema (AP) as a fundamental structure implied in the processing of certain toxic stimuli. Likewise, recent studies demonstrated that electric stimulation of the AP is an efficient substitute of the aversive stimulus. The lateral parabrachial nucleus (PBN1), one of the subnuclei of the parabrachial complex, is the main anatomic rostral connection of the AP. In the experiment presented here, we demonstrate that TAL induced by electric stimulation of the AP is interrupted when the PBN1 is lesioned, thus giving support to the functional role of this anatomic system (AP-PBN1) in the codification of aversive stimuli processed by the AP.
Agüero
A
A
Departamento de Psicología Experimental y Fisiología del Comportamiento, Universidad de Granada, Spain.
Arnedo
M
M
Gallo
M
M
Puerto
A
A
D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011149:Pons / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D013649:Taste / Q000502:physiology