Abstract
Two series of experiments were performed in cats in which 80 Μg of atropine in 5 Μl were injected into the head of both caudate nuclei. In order to obtain a reward (a constant amount of milk) the first group of Ss learned to walk a distance of 75 cm after the delivery of 4 flashes, while the second group learned to press a lever. Both tasks were significantly impaired (P<0.05) after atropine injection. The motor reflex response as well as hunger motivation were not modified by the substance. A caudate-cholinergic mechanism involved in the maintenance of motor conditioned responses is proposed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Albe-Fessard, D., Oswaldo-Cruz, E., Rocha-Miranda, C.: Activités évoquées dans le noyau caudé du chat en réponse à des types divers d'afférences. I. Etude macrophysiologique. Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol. 12, 405–420 (1960a).
—, Rocha-Miranda, C., Oswaldo-Cruz, E.: Activités évoquées dans le noyau caudé du chat en réponse à des types d'afférences. II. Etude microphysiologique. Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol. 12, 649–661 (1960b).
Brust-Carmona, H., Portes, J. L., Mascher, I.: Instrumental and inhibitory Conditioning in cats. I. Effects of neocortex lesion. Bol. Est. med. Biol. Méx. 27, 1–8 (1971b).
—, Zarco-Coronado, I.: Instrumental and Inhibitory Conditioning in cats. II. Effects of paleocortex and caudate nucleus lesions. Bol. Est. med. Biol. Méx. 27, 63–71 (1971a).
Chorover, S. L., Gross, Ch. G.: Caudate nucleus lesions: behavioral effects in the rat. Science 141, 826–827 (1963).
Edwards, A. L.: Experimental design in psychological research 3 a Edition, pp. 155–167. New York-Chicago-San Francisco-Atlanta-Dallas-Montreal-Toronto-London: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc. 1968.
French, G. M.: Locomotor effects of regional ablations of frontal cortex in rhesus monkeys. J. comp. physiol. Psychol. 52, 18–24 (1959).
Jasper, H. H., Ajmone-Marsan, C.: A stereotaxic atlas of the cat. Nat. Res. Council of Canada, Ottawa 1954.
McLennan, H., York, D. H.: Cholinergic mechanisms in the caudate nucleus. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 187, 163–175 (1966).
Nauta, W. J. H., Whitlock, D. F.: An anatomical analysis of the nonspecific thalamic projection system. In: Brain mechanisms and consciousness. pp. 81–116. Edit.: J. F. Delafresnaye. Oxford: Blackwell, Scientific Publications 1954.
Portig, P. J., Vogt, M.: Release into the cerebral ventricles of substances with possible transmitter function in the caudate nucleus. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 204, 687–715 (1969).
Powell, T. P. S., Cowan, W. M.: A study of thalamostriate relations in the monkey. Brain 79, 364–396 (1956).
Prado, R., Grinberg, J., Brust-Carmona, H.: Bloqueo de respuestas motoras condicionadas pavlovianas e instrumentales por la microinyección de KCl 3M en el nÚcleo caudado. Res. del X Congr. Latinoamer. de Ciencias Fisiológicas, Caracas, Vzla. 1971.
Rosvold, H. E., Delgado, J. M.: The effect on delayed alternation test performance of stimulating or destroying electrically structures within the frontal of the lobes of the monkey's brain. J. comp. physiol. Psychol. 49, 365–372 (1956).
Thompson, R. L.: Effects of lesions in the caudate nuclei and dorsofrontal cortex on conditioned avoidance behavior in cats. J. comp. physiol. Psychol. 52, 650–659 (1959).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The authors are indebted to Prof. A. Guevara-Rojas for his suggestions and reviewing the manuscript.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Prado-Alcalá, R.A., Grinberg-Zylberbaun, J., Alvarez-Leefmans, J. et al. A possible caudate-cholinergic mechanism in two instrumental conditioned responses. Psychopharmacologia 25, 339–346 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421973
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421973