Abstract
Animals barpressing for rewarding electrical stimulation of the lateral preoptic area typically had well-developed motor seizures during their first self-stimulation session. Over subsequent daily testing, however, the incidence of self-induced seizures decreased significantly. In a second experiment, externally controlled delivery of stimulation was not found to induce a high proportion of first-session seizures but, over repeated daily sessions, there was a significant increase in elicited seizures. The rapid development of the first-session seizures is attributed to the highly potentiating consequences of the pattern of self-stimulation. The decrease in seizures over repeated daily self-stimulation testing is suggested to reflect learned avoidance of self-induced seizures.
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This research was supported by National Research Council Grant 7659 to N. W. Milgram.
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Milgram, N.W., Smith, H.L. & Chong, S.M. Rapid development of motor seizures in rats barpressing for electrical stimulation of the preoptic area. Psychobiology 6, 57–60 (1978). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03326692
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03326692