Nucleus accumbens lesions impair context, but not cue, conditioning in rats.
Previous work has provided evidence of a role for the hippocampal formation in contextual as opposed to cue conditioning. Similar deficits have been observed after transection of the fimbria/fornix, part of which consists of the hippocampal-nucleus accumbens (N.Acc) connection arising from both the dorsal and ventral subiculum. By means of electrolytic lesions of the N.Acc, we showed that the subiculo-accumbens projection appears to participate in aversive conditioning to context, but not to a cue (tone). Freezing, measured as an index of learning, in the experimental context was greatly reduced in animals with lesions of the N.Acc, as compared with sham-operated controls. No difference was found in freezing to a distinct tone. These data lend further support to the notion that the N.Acc is an important interface between limbic structures and motor output.
Riedel
G
G
Department of Psychology, University of York, UK.
Harrington
N R
NR
Hall
G
G
Macphail
E M
EM
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000818:Animals; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000502:physiology*; D004572:Electrolysis; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology*; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009068:Movement; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011930:Reaction Time