Abstract
Lesions of the amygdala were made in hooded rats whose aggressiveness and social dominance rank had been determined in a seminatural environment. There was a significant reduction in the number of inter-animal interactions and in the percentage of bouts won. Social rank decreased in some animals, but was maintained by others. The effects of the lesions appeared to result from a raised threshold to social stimuli.
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1. Supported by Grant B1149 from the National Science Foundation. The assistance of Dr. W. Rea Knight, P. J. Sodetz, and Judi Barry in making the behavioral observations and of Dr. Knight and K. E. Achenbach in helping with the surgery is gratefully acknowledged.
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Bunnell, B.N. Amygdaloid lesions and social dominance in the hooded rat. Psychon Sci 6, 93–94 (1966). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03327973
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03327973