Intrinsic neurons in the amygdaloid field projected to by the medial geniculate body mediate emotional responses conditioned to acoustic stimuli
Abstract
In previous experiments we implicated projections from the medial geniculate body (MG) to a subcortical field, involving portions of the posterior caudate-putamen and amygdala, in the classical conditioning of emotional responses to acoustic stimuli in the rat. In the present series of experiments we examined whether intrinsic neurons in the subcortical field mediate emotional conditioning and, if so, whether the critical neurons are contained within the amygdala or the caudate-putamen. Rats were prepared with a unilateral electrolytic lesion of the MG. Contralaterally, intrinsic neurons were destroyed in the subcortical field by microinjection of ibotenic acid. This lesion combination leaves one MG and one subcortical field intact but disconnected. Controls received unilateral injection of phosphate buffer vehicle into the subcortical field contralateral to the MG lesion or were unoperated. After two weeks the animals were instrumented for continuous, computer-assisted recording of arterial pressure and heart rate and subjected to classical conditioning trials involving the presentation of a pure tone in association with foot-shock. The occurrence of the shock with respect to the tone was random for a pseudoconditioned control...Continue Reading
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