Impaired performance in a conditioned reaction time task after thermocoagulatory lesions of the fronto-parietal cortex in rats

Cerebral Cortex
C. BaunezM Amalric

Abstract

The present study examined whether cortical damage in rats may disrupt the integrative processes and motor control involved in the performance of a reaction time (RT) task. To investigate the nature of the deficits in the conditioned task, rats were subjected, after learning, to a coagulation of pia brain surface of varying extent, including the frontal and parietal cortical areas. They were then tested daily for over one month. The behavioural task required the rats to hold a lever down during a variable and random delay and react quickly to the onset of a visual cue by releasing the lever within a RT limit for food reinforcement. Extensive bilateral cortical lesions had no effect on spontaneous motor activity, but severely impaired RT performance. Latencies to release the lever after the cue were dramatically increased during the first postoperative sessions and gradually returned to baseline levels within 3 weeks, whereas less dramatic but long-lasting increase in premature responding (anticipatory response before the visual cue) was observed throughout the testing sessions. More restricted lesions to the frontoparietal cortex produced a similar pattern of incorrect responding with a faster recovery of delayed responses and ...Continue Reading

Citations

Sep 25, 2002·The European Journal of Neuroscience·Vietminh Paz-VillagrànBruno Poucet
Jan 28, 2005·The European Journal of Neuroscience·Etienne SaveBruno Poucet
Apr 26, 2003·The European Journal of Neuroscience·Céline RisterucciMarianne Amalric

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Blood Clotting Disorders

Thrombophilia includes conditions with increased tendency for excessive blood clotting. Blood clotting occurs when the body has insufficient amounts of specialized proteins that make blood clot and stop bleeding. Here is the latest research on blood clotting disorders.

Basal Ganglia

Basal Ganglia are a group of subcortical nuclei in the brain associated with control of voluntary motor movements, procedural and habit learning, emotion, and cognition. Here is the latest research.