Abstract
Investigations of the effects of anterodorsal caudate nucleus lesions on one-way and two-way active avoidance learning in the rat have resulted in contradictory findings. It was suggested that this disagreement might be associated with differences in experimental variables such as number of trials per testing session, lesion size, CS-UCS intervals, and shock intensity. Kirkby’s interpretation of the role of the caudate in the modulation of neural arousal was reviewed.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Chorover, S. L., & Gross, C. G. Caudate nucleus lesions: Behavioral effects in the rat. Science, 1633, 141, 826–827.
Coyle, I. R., Kirkby, R. J., & Polgar, S. A “warm up” effect in learning by brain-damaged rats. Australian Psychologist, 1972, 7, 246.
Ghiselli, E. E., & Brown, C. W. Subcortical mechanisms in learning. III. Brightness discrimination. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 1938, 26, 271–285.
Green, R. H., Beatty, W. W., & Schwartzbaum, J. S. Comparative effects of septo-hippocampal and caudate lesions on avoidance behavior in rats. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1967, 64, 444–452.
Gross, C. G., Chorover, S. L., & Cohen, S. M. Caudate, cortical, hippocampal and dorsal thalamic lesions in rats: Alternation and Hebb-Williams maze performance. Neuropsychologia, 1965, 3, 53–68.
Kirkby, R. J. Caudate nucleus lesions and perseverative behavior. Physiology and Behavior, 1969, 4, 451–454.
Kirkby, R. J. The caudate nucleus and arousal. Unpublished PhD thesis submitted to the Department of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, 1971.
Kirkby, R. J. The caudate nucleus and arousal in the rat. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1973, 85, 82–96.
Kirkby, R. J., & Kimble, D. P. Avoidance and escape behavior following striatal lesions in the rat. Experimental Neurology, 1968, 20, 215–227.
Kirkby, R. J., & Polgar, S. Active avoidance in the laboratory rat following lesions of the dorsal or ventral caudate nucleus. Physiological Psychology, 1974, 2, 301–306.
Lashley, K. S. Studies of cerebral function in learning. No. III—The motor areas. Brain, 1921, 44, 255–285.
Mikulas, W. L. Effects of lights at the choice point on spatial alternation and position learning by normal rats and rats with bilateral lesions of the caudate nucleus. Psychonomic Science, 1966, 5, 275–276.
Schwartzbaum, J. S., & Donovick, P. J. Discrimination reversal and spatial alternation associated with septal and caudate dysfunction in rats. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1968, 65, 83–92.
Thomas, R. K., & Hill, A. S. The caudate nucleus and avoidance learning: A reevaluation. Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, 1973, 1, 346–348.
Vanderwolf, C. H. Medial thalamic functions in voluntary behavior. Canadian Journal of Psychology, 1962, 16, 318–330.
Winocur, G. Functional dissociation within the caudate nucleus of rats. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1974, 86, 432–439.
Winocur, G. Comments on Kirkby and Polgar’s interpretation of caudate nucleus function. Physiological Psychology, 1975, 3, 255–256.
Winocur, G., & Mills, J. A. Effects of caudate lesions on avoidance behavior in rats. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1969, 68, 552–557.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kirkby, R.J., Polgar, S. Caudate nucleus lesions and active avoidance: A reply to Winocur. Psychobiology 4, 135–136 (1976). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03326564
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03326564