Differential effects of hippocampectomy on classically conditioned rabbit nictitating membrane response related to interstimulus interval.

The effects of hippocampal ablation on acquisition rates and temporal characteristics of classically conditioned nictitating membrane responses were examined in 54 New Zealand albino rabbits trained with a 150-, 300-, or 600-msec interstimulus interval. Acquisition rates were accelerated in the 150- and 600-msec groups. No effect was present in the 300-msec group. Response onset latencies were also affected in the 150-msec group. Results indicate that damage to the hippocampus influences the acquisition of classically conditioned responses only when temporal parameters are relatively complex. Findings also support the notion that the hippocampus modulates learned motor behavior by a neural model of the response to be executed. (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)