Source Paper
Double Dissociation of Basolateral and Central Amygdala Lesions on the General and Outcome-Specific Forms of Pavlovian-Instrumental Transfer
Laura H. Corbit, Bernard W. Balleine
Journal of Neuroscience • 2005
Instrumental Learning and Pavlovian-Instrumental Transfer (Experiment 1)
Objective: To compare the effects of basolateral amygdala (BLA) and central nucleus (CN) lesions on instrumental learning, outcome devaluation sensitivity, and pavlovian-instrumental transfer (PIT) effects in rats
Gather these items before starting the experiment. Check off items as you prepare.
Equipment1
Not specified • Not specified • Not specified • Not mentioned
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Protocol Steps
Instrumental lever training
Rats were trained to press two levers, with each lever earning a unique food outcome (pellets or sucrose)
Note: This is the initial instrumental acquisition phase
View evidence from paper
“groups of BLA-, CN-, and sham-lesioned rats were first trained to press two levers, each earning a unique food outcome (pellets or sucrose)”
Pavlovian conditioning
Two auditory stimuli (tone and white noise) were paired with the same food outcomes used in instrumental training
Note: Auditory stimuli were conditioned to predict the same outcomes as the instrumental task
View evidence from paper
“they were given training in which two auditory stimuli (tone and white noise) were paired with these same outcomes”
Outcome devaluation test
Tests of specific satiety were conducted to induce outcome devaluation and assess selective sensitivity to changes in reward value
Note: This test measures whether rats adjust instrumental responding based on current outcome value
View evidence from paper
“Tests of specific satiety induced outcome devaluation”
Pavlovian-instrumental transfer (PIT) test
Tests to reveal the excitatory effects of reward-related cues on instrumental performance
Note: Assesses both selective (outcome-specific) and general motivational effects of pavlovian cues
View evidence from paper
“tests of PIT revealed that, although the rats in all of the groups performed similarly during both the instrumental and pavlovian acquisition phases”