Inactivation of the ventral tegmental area abolished the general excitatory influence of Pavlovian cues on instrumental performance.
Pavlovian stimuli can markedly elevate instrumental responding, an effect known as Pavlovian-instrumental transfer (PIT). As the role of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in PIT is yet unknown, we examined the effects of transient VTA inactivation by direct microinjections of a mixture of the GABA(A) and GABA(B) receptor agonists, muscimol and baclofen. Results reveal that PIT, i.e., the increase in instrumental responding during presentation of a Pavlovian stimulus, was abolished by intra-VTA microinjections of muscimol/baclofen. These data provide the first evidence that the VTA mediates Pavlovian influences on instrumental behavior.
Abteilung Tierphysiologie, Biologisches Institut Universität Stuttgart, D-70550 Stuttgart, Germany.
Anja
A
Murschall
Wolfgang
W
Hauber
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001070:Appetitive Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001418:Baclofen / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003463:Cues; D018755:GABA Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections; D009042:Motivation; D009118:Muscimol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017557:Ventral Tegmental Area / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D018755:GABA Agonists; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B; D009118:Muscimol; D001418:Baclofen