Deficits in visual learning produced by posterior temporal lesions in cats.

Eight cats with lesions in the posterior temporal (PT) cortex, 7 cats with lesions in the basolateral amygdala (BLA), and 8 intact controls were observed on 8 tests of visual discrimination learning and spontaneous responses to salient visual stimuli. The effects of the 2 lesions were somewhat dissociable. The PT lesions were accompanied by a severe deficit in pattern discrimination learning but no loss in visual tracking or orientation to the silhouette of a threatening cat. The BLA lesions produced a milder and less consistent loss in pattern discrimination but serious defects in tracking and response to the cat silhouette. Both operated groups performed well on the visual cliff. The deficit from PT lesions appeared independent of damage to the geniculocortical system. The parallel of symptoms from PT lesions in cats and inferotemporal lesions in monkeys is discussed. (33 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)