Effects of septal lesions in rats on response inhibition associated with food-reinforced behavior.

Abstract
Rats were trained preoperatively in a bar-pressing situation to discriminate between 2 tones, based upon intermittent food reinforcement in the presence of one of them. Septal lesions produced sustained increases in bar pressing during nonreinforced conditions and also retarded extinction of bar pressing. Cingulate lesions facilitated extinction. A follow-up study of septal effects further demonstrated increased perseverative errors during acquisition of a simultaneous brightness discrimination, but no serious impairment in total acquisition scores or retention. The results are consistent with view that the septal area exercises inhibitory control over somatomotor activity .