Prefrontal control of conditioned suppression and associated cardiovascular variables in the monkey (Macaca mulatta).

Trained 17 male rhesus monkeys in a discriminated conditioned emotional responses paradigm. The discriminated conditioned response (CR) complex consisted of barpress suppression, increased terminal aortic blood flow, and increased arterial pressure. Barpress suppression and blood-flow responses were temporarily eliminated by single-stage bilateral prefrontal lobectomy but not by extensive posterior cortical ablation, 2-stage prefrontal lobe removal, or 3-stage prefrontal cortical surface ablation. The blood pressure CR was attenuated by almost every surgical operation. The changes in heart rate paralleled changes in general activity. Data indicate that the prefrontal lobes influenced the conditioned suppression of ongoing rewarded behavior and the vascular responses accompanying the suppression. The time course for recovery of the somatic CR after lobectomy differed from those of the cardiovascular CRs. (33 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)