Septal correlates of conditioned inhibition and excitation in rats. |
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Authors: | Yadin, Elna Thomas, Earl |
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Abstract: | Recorded multiple-unit activity in the lateral septum of rats during Pavlovian differential conditioning. In Exp I, 14 male Sprague-Dawley rats received a classical aversive discrimination paradigm, while 11 Ss were presented with a control procedure in which the UCS (shocks) was administered randomly with regard to the CS. Septal unit activity increased during presentations of the conditioned inhibitor and was markedly suppressed during presentations of the conditioned excitor in the conditioning-group Ss and not in controls. Baseline activity remained unchanged in the conditioning group but was suppressed in the random control group. Furthermore, termination of the aversive stimuli was marked by a burst of firing in the conditioning group, but no such rebound was seen in the control group. In Exp II (6 Ss), a classical appetitive discrimination paradigm was given, in which septal unit activity increased in the presence of the conditioned excitor and was suppressed in the presence of the conditioned inhibitor. Results indicate a role for the septum in the relief of aversive states. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
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