Abstract
Running activity of guinea pigs was compared before and after ablation of the cortical projection areas of the medial and lateral sectors of the thalamic mediodorsal nucleus (sulcal vs. medial prefrontal cortex). Only ablation of the sulcal prefrontal cortex was followed by a significant increase in running activity. This result corresponds to similar observations made in another rodent species, the rat, and also made in nonrodent species. Therefore, it is concluded that, with respect to basic or unlearned functions, interspecies parallels can be drawn for the cortical projection area of the medial portion of the mediodorsal nucleus. At the same time, it is, however, emphasized that the prefrontal cortex cannot be considered to be structurally and/or functionally homogeneous among species.
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We are grateful to Frances M. Wharton for improving the English of the manuscript and to Michuru Sugawa for help during the experiment.
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Markowitsch, H.J., Guldin, W., Kessler, J. et al. Activity changes following sulcal, but not medial, ablation of the prefrontal cortex of the guinea pig. Psychobiology 8, 320–324 (1980). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03337465
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03337465