Abstract
A comparison was made of the effects of habenular and medial forebrain bundle lesions on female rat sexual behavior as measured by the lordosis-to-mount ratio, and by the female’s avoidance of sexual contact. Results show that destruction of the habenulae causes a decreased lordosis response, and a greater avoidance of male sexual contacts. Medial forebrain bundle lesions had a less pronounced effect on the female’s behavior.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Bermant, G. Response latencies of female rats during sexual intercourse. Science, 1961, 133, 1771–1773.
deGroot, J. The rat forebrain in stereotaxic coordinates. Verb. Kon. Ned. Akad. Wet, B. Natuurkunde, 1959, 52, 1–40.
deGroot, J. The influence of ‘limbic’ brain structures on reproductive functions in female rats. Excerpta Medica, 1962, #48.
Flerko, B. The central nervous system and the secretion and release of luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone. In A. V. Nalbandov (Ed.), Advances in neuroendocrinology, Urbana: University of Illinois, 1963. Pp. 211–224.
Goddard, G. V. Functions of the amygdala. Psychol. Bull., 1964, 62, 89–109.
Herberg, L. H. Seminal ejaculation following positively reinforcing electrical stimulation of the rat hypothalamus. J. comp. physiol. Psychol., 1963, 56, 679–685.
Herrick, J. C. The habenula and its connections. In The brain of the tiger salamander. Chicago: University of Chicago, 1948. Pp. 247–264.
Kuehn, R. E., & Beach, F. A. Quantitative measurement of sexual receptivity in female rats. Behav., 1962, 21, 282–299.
Law, O. T., & Meagher, W. Hypothalamic lesions and sexual behavior in the female rat. Science, 1958, 128, 1626–1627.
MacLean, P. D., Denniston, R. H., Dua, S., & Ploog, D. W. Physiologie de l’hippocampe. Intern. Colloq. Nat’l. Cent. Scient. Res., 1961, 107, 492–510.
Papez, J. W. Comparative neurology. New York: Hafner, 1929. P. 300.
Peirce, J. T., & Nuttal, R. L. Self-paced sexual behavior in the female rat. J. comp. physiol. Psychol., 1961, 54, 310–313.
Prosser, C. L. Nervous systems. In C. L. Prosser & F. A. Brown (Eds.), Comparative animal physiology. Philadelphia: Saunders, 1961. Pp. 587–661.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Notes
1. Supported in part by USPHS Grant HD 00343-0352 to O. T. Law.
2. Completed while USPHS Predoctoral Fellow. Gratitude is expressed to Julian M. Davidson, Stanford University, for his assistance.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rodgers, C.H., Law, O.T. The effects of habenular and medial forebrain bundle lesions on sexual behavior in female rats. Psychon Sci 8, 1–2 (1967). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03330637
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03330637