Effects of brain lesions upon running activity in the male rat.

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Abstract
Rats with varying amts. of destruction in both anterior and posterior portions of the cortex were studied either in revolving activity cages or placed in a large cage and their movements within the cage noted. Pre-operative tests in the activity cages were made. Controlled tests for the effect of the pause between the operation and the return to the cages were made. In normal rats a rest of 20 days following 20 days of activity is followed by a decrease of activity; lesions in the anterior cortex produce increases in activity in some rats but not in others; similarly, lesions in the posterior cortex produce increased activity in some rats; in general, the lesions in the anterior cortex result in a greater increase than do lesions in the posterior cortex; lesions of small extent tend to produce higher increases in activity than lesions over 30% of the cortex; increases in activity in some rats result from lesions in either the anterior or posterior cortex when the activity is measured in the large square cage; in the square cage the increase resulting from brain destruction is greater for lesions in the anterior cortex than for lesions in the posterior cortex; changes in emotional behavior following lesions were considered temporary. A brief review of previous studies concerning the effect of cortical lesions on activity is given.