Long-lasting effects of cholinergic stimulation of the amygdaloid complex in the rat.

1 January 1972

journal article
Published by American Psychological Association (APA) in Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology

Vol. 80 (2) , 269-282
https://doi.org/10.1037/h0032967

Abstract

Assigned 104 male Sprague-Dawley albino rats to 4 groups: (a) unoperated control, (b) cannulated control, (c) carbachol injections, and (d) eserine injections. Injection of carbachol into the amygdaloid complex caused EEG seizures and behavioral convulsions. After convulsions and abnormal EEG had disappeared, impaired acquisition of a 1-way active-avoidance response and facilitated acquisition of a 2-way shuttle-box avoidance response persisted. There was normal acquisition of an appetitive visual discrimination task, but no improvement in 1-way active-avoidance acquisition following daily handling that facilitated acquisition in controls. Eserine injections into the amygdala produced a deficit in 1-way avoidance acquisition similar to that produced by carbachol, without altering EEG or inducing convulsions. It is suggested that the behavioral changes were due to altered amygdaloid synaptic function which elevated the Ss' reactivity to noxious stimuli. (20 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)

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