title: Orbitofrontal cortex and basolateral amygdala lesions result in suboptimal and dissociable reward choices on cue-guided effort in rats.
abstract: The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (BLA) are important neural regions in responding adaptively to changes in the incentive value of reward. Recent evidence suggests these structures may be differentially engaged in effort and cue-guided choice behavior. In 2 T-maze experiments, we examined the effects of bilateral lesions of either BLA or OFC on (1) effortful choices in which rats could climb a barrier for a high reward or select a low reward with no effort and (2) effortful choices when a visual cue signaled changes in reward magnitude. In both experiments, BLA rats displayed transient work aversion, choosing the effortless low reward option. OFC rats were work averse only in the no cue conditions, displaying a pattern of attenuated recovery from the cue conditions signaling reward unavailability in the effortful arm. Control measures rule out an inability to discriminate the cue in either lesion group.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, California State University, Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90032, USA.
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ostrander
authors.forename: Victor A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Cazares
authors.forename: Charissa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Shauna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Izquierdo
mesh_terms: D000679:Amygdala / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003463:Cues; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D007051:Ibotenic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008845:Microinjections; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D012201:Reward
chemical_list: D007051:Ibotenic Acid