Source Paper
Reduced fear expression after lesions of the ventral hippocampus
Kirsten G. Kjelstrup, Frode A. Tuvnes, Hill-Aina Steffenach, Robert Murison, Edvard I. Moser et al.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences • 2002
Contextual Fear Conditioning
Objective: Assessment of the ability to condition fear responses to contextual environmental cues and evaluate the role of the ventral hippocampus in contextual fear conditioning
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Protocol Steps
Elevated plus-maze testing
Rats were tested in an elevated plus-maze to assess their ability to avoid open arms, which indicates fear-related defensive behavior
Note: Lesioned rats failed to avoid open arms compared to controls
View evidence from paper
“Rats with selective hippocampal lesions failed to avoid open arms in an elevated plus-maze”
Brightly lit chamber confinement
Rats were confined to a brightly lit chamber and neuroendocrine stress responses were measured
Note: Lesioned rats showed decreased neuroendocrine stress responses
View evidence from paper
“decreased neuroendocrine stress responses during confinement to a brightly lit chamber”
Contextual fear conditioning assessment
Rats were assessed for their ability to condition fear responses to contextual environmental cues
Note: Ventral hippocampal lesions did not impair contextual fear conditioning
View evidence from paper
“Ventral lesions failed to impair contextual fear conditioning or spatial navigation”
Spatial navigation testing
Rats were tested in a water maze to assess spatial navigation abilities
Note: Ventral hippocampal lesions did not impair spatial navigation
View evidence from paper
“Ventral lesions failed to impair contextual fear conditioning or spatial navigation”