Source Paper
The amygdala central nucleus and appetitive Pavlovian conditioning: lesions impair one class of conditioned behavior
M Gallagher, PW Graham, PC Holland
Journal of Neuroscience • 1990
Appetitive Pavlovian Conditioning with Lesions
Objective: To assess the role of the amygdala central nucleus in appetitive Pavlovian conditioning by comparing conditioned responses in lesioned versus control rats
Gather these items before starting the experiment. Check off items as you prepare.
Equipment1
not specified • not specified • not specified • not specified
Materials1
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Protocol Steps
Lesion surgery
Rats received neurotoxic lesions of the amygdala central nucleus (CN) prior to conditioning training
Note: Lesioned rats compared to unlesioned control rats
View evidence from paper
“Rats with neurotoxic lesions of the amygdala central nucleus (CN) were trained using appetitive Pavlovian conditioning procedures”
Differential conditioning training
Rats received differential conditioning with either visual cue reinforced and auditory cue non-reinforced, or auditory cue reinforced and visual cue non-reinforced
Note: Both lesioned and unlesioned rats received these presentations
View evidence from paper
“some lesioned and unlesioned rats received reinforced presentations of a visual cue and nonreinforced presentations of an auditory cue, and the others in each lesion condition received reinforced auditory and nonreinforced visual cue presentations”
Monitor conditioned responses
Conditioned responses (CRs) representing two classes of behavior were monitored: CS-generated CRs (resembling orienting responses to CSs) and US-generated CRs (resembling behavior elicited by food reinforcement)
Note: Responses monitored during differential conditioning to both visual and auditory CSs
View evidence from paper
“Conditioned responses (CRs) that are representative of 2 classes of behavior were monitored. One type of CR resembled the orienting responses that were elicited by the conditioned stimuli (CSs) prior to pairing with food reinforcement: the other type of CR resembled the behavior elicited by food reinforcement itself”
Assess orienting responses and habituation
Evaluate orienting responses and habituation to the CSs in both lesion and control groups
Note: Compared between lesioned and control groups
View evidence from paper
“Orienting responses and habituation to the CSs were, however, comparable for the lesion and control groups”