Inhibitory effect of the amygdala on alimentary-conditioned reflexes in the dog

In experiments on dogs, changes of conditioned alimentary reflexes were studied under stimulation (50-100 mcA, 1, 40, 100 imp/s, 0.5 ms) of the basolateral area of amygdala before and after electrolytic ablation (5 mA, 60 s) of the head of the caudate nucleus. Stimulation of the amygdala, which elicited inhibition of conditioned secretory reflexes and prolongation of latencies in intact dogs leads to opposite - activating - influences after destruction of the caudate nucleus head. A conclusion is made on the participation of neurophysiological and neurochemical mechanisms of the caudate nucleus in transmission of inhibitory effects of the amygdala on alimentary conditioned reflexes.     

Formation of temporary connections in dogs following destruction of the amygdaloid complex, head of the caudate nucleus and orbital cortex]

Ablation of the orbital cortical zones in dogs after ablation of the basolateral part of the amygdala and the caudate nucleus head considerably impeded the elaboration of secretory conditioned alimentary reflexes, without affecting the rate of elaboration of simple instrumental food-procuring reaction. The dogs lost however the capacity to differentiate non-reinforced stimuli from reinforced ones, which was revealed in both secretory and instrumental reactions.     

Alimentary conditioned reflexes in the dog after pharmacologic activation and blockade of dopaminergic structures of the caudate nucleus

Bilateral injections of 60 mcg of amphetamine and dopamine into the head of caudate nucleus produced in dogs a manifested impairment of parameters of Pavlovian alimentary conditioned reflexes but did not influence the conditioned differential inhibition. Injections of 10 mcg of haloperidol were ineffective. The most effective were the influences on the dorsal part of the caudate nucleus head.     

Effect of electric stimulation of different portions of the amygdala on the formation of alimentary conditioned reflexes in the dog

In dogs with previous learning experience, a low-frequency (1 imp/s), weak (20-50 mcA) amygdala stimulation produces dissimilar influences on formation rate and value of conditioned alimentary reflexes in dependence on stimulation localization. At stimulation of amygdala basolateral part, the reflexes formation proceeds 2-3 times slower than normally. Their value is significantly reduced, the triggering of the secretory reaction is delayed. Dorsomedial part stimulation accelerates the process of conditioning, intensifies the secretion but delays the start of secretory reaction. The elaboration of differentiation inhibition is facilitated by basolateral part stimulation and is impeded by dorsomedial amygdala activation.     

Effect of electric stimulation of the somatosensory cortex and caudate nucleus on extinctive inhibition of a conditioned alimentary reflex to sound]

In experiments performed on 9 dogs with alimentary method, extinctive inhibition was deepened and its elaboration was aceelerated by electrical stimulation of somatosensory and motor cortical areas and ventral segment of the caudate nucleus head. The extinction of the conditioned reflex was slowed down by stimulation of the anterolateral gyrus and the central segment of the caudate nucleus head. General motor excitation of animals during stimulation of the dorsal zone of caudate nucleus head impaired the elaboration of extinctive inhibition.     

Motor alimentary conditioned reflexes and delayed reactions in dogs following destruction of the caudate nucleus]

The characteristics of formation and achievement of motor conditioned reactions were studied in seventeen dogs before and after the lesion of head or body of the caudate nucleus. It has been shown that the degree of higher nervous activity disturbances depends on the localization of injuries in the nucleus, and on the complexity of the tests used. The caudate nucleus exerts a modulating effect on the parameters of motor conditioned reflexes and takes a direct part in the structure of delayed reflexes. Lesion of the caudate nucleus body is attended with more serious disturbances of higher nervous activity than lesion of its head.     

The effect of ablation of the caudate nucleus on the alimentary zone of the lateral hypothalamus]

A conditioned food-procuring reaction previously elaborated to an acoustic stimulus was reproduced in chronic experiments on six cats by means of direct electrical stimulation of the posterior parts of the lateral hypothalamus. Folloiwng extensive bilateral electrolytic ablation of the caudate nucleus, conditioned food-procuring reaction to the stimulation of the hypothalamus could not be reproduced for 40 to 70 days. The conditioned foor-procuring reflex to the acoustic stimulus disappeared for 14 to 30 days to be subsequently spontaneously restored. After caudatotomy, a diminution of the average amplitude of background oscillations and of evoked potentials to acoustic stimuli was recorced in the examined zones of the lateral hypothalamus. The part played by the caudate nucleus in the processes of alimentary behaviour activation is discussed.     

Role of intralaminar thalamic nuclei in strengthening inhibition induced by stimulation of the caudate nucleus

The influence of preliminary subthreshold activation of thalamic intralaminary nuclei on achievement of instrumental reflex and on inhibitory effects, caused by stimulation of the caudate nucleus head, were studied in chronic experiments on 5 dogs with a model of instrumental defensive conditioned reflexes, providing for maintainance of a given posture. It was shown that the preceding high-frequency electrostimulation of intralaminary nuclei activates motor components of the instrumental response (shortened latency, EMG and mechanogram of the response, increased amplitude of instrumental response) and significantly lowers threshold strength of the current, necessary for obtaining "caudate pause". The greatest increase in inhibitory influences, caused by stimulation of the caudate nucleus head, was observed when thalamic stimulation preceded stimulations, localized in the dorsolateral segment of the caudate nucleus head. The obtained data are discussed in aspect of Buchwald et al. hypothesis on the existence of "caudate loop".     

An EEG-study of participation by the head of the dog caudate nucleus in alimentary conditioned reflex activity]

It was shown during alimentary conditioning in dogs that in the "background" electrocaudatogram there are rhythms typical of the act of eating, which become more clearly pronounced under the action of the conditioned stimulus. The EEG of the caudate nucleus head sharply changed during discordance reactions. It has been assumed that the caudate nucleus head forms a link in the functional system of the alimentary conditioned reflex at stages of afferent synthesis and functioning of the action acceptor.     

Effect of activating the putamen on alimentary conditioned reflexes in dogs

The influence was studied of the near-threshold high- and low-frequency stimulation of the putamen on achievement of alimentary conditioned reflexes in dogs. Both low- and high-frequency activation of the examined structure significantly changes the parameters of intermediate secretion, of the salivary conditioned reflexes, without influencing unconditioned ones. Unilateral stimulation disturbs the achievement of positive and inhibitory conditioned reflexes to a greater extent than bilateral one. Difference between the effects of low- and high-frequency stimulation has been revealed.     

The effect of electrostimulation of the caudate nucleus and somatosensory cortex on defensive instrumental reactions in dogs]

It has been shown that the effect of stimulation of the caudate nucleus head in the contralateral hemisphere differs at different stages of achievement of a defensive instrumental habit in dogs. Stimulation preceding the action of the conditioned signal or delivered simultaneously with the beginning of the latter did not change the criteria for the achievement of successive programs of the instrumental defensive reaction. Stimulation of the same areas in the last phase of the instrumental response, as a rule, lead to the cessation of instrumental movement. A conclusion has been drawn that in a defensive situation the inhibitory influence of the caudate nucleus on instrumental behaviour of intact dogs is not so sharply expressed as in experiments with alimentary reinforcement. In dogs with a preliminary ablation of the CI and CII cortical zones of the contralateral hemisphere, stimulation of the caudate nucleus head was attended with a sharp drop in every criterion of the instrumental defensive reactions.     

A comparison of the effects of single and chronic microinjections of GABA and picrotoxin into the caudate nucleus on the conditioned reflexes of dogs

The effects on Pavlovian alimentary conditioned reflexes realization of two methods of intrastriatal microinjections--acute (separate) and long-term (chronic) one--are compared in experiments on dogs. Bilateral acute administration and the first week of chronic injection of 45 mcg of GABA into the caudate nuclei produced in dogs a manifest improvement of parameters of the conditioned differentiation inhibition, but only in the next period of chronic treatment an improvement of the positive Pavlovian alimentary conditioned reflex was obtained. The both ways of picrotoxin treatment impaired conditioned behaviour, and this effect was observed after the end of injection. No withdrawal effects were recorded. The data obtained give ground for discussion of the role of striatal GABAergic system in the positive modulation of adaptive alimentary behaviour. The application of novel psychopharmacological method in experimental and clinical fields of investigation is discussed.     

The possibility of elaborating conditioned reflexes on the basis of emotional reactions evoked by electrical stimulation of limbic structures]

In experiments on cats with chronically implanted electrodes a conditioned stimulus (200 c/s tone) was paired with electrical stimulation of limbic structures, which produces pronounced emotional behaviour: defensive, aggressive, alimentary or drinking reactions. It has been shown that conditioned reactions are not elaborated on the basis of electrical stimulation, which activates alimentary, drinking or aggressive behaviour. Neither is a conditioned reflex formed to the combination of sound and stimulation of the brain structures, which inhibits alimentary behaviour. A distinct conditioned fear reaction sets in as a result of combination of sound and electrical stimulation of brain structures, which evoke defensive behaviour. The data obtained are analyzed in the light of the significance of natural requirements of the organism for the elaboration of conditioned reflexes.     

Role of enkephalin-reactive system of the caudate nucleus in acquisition of alimentary conditioned reflex in dogs

Bilateral injections of 15 and 45 mcg of synthetic analogue of TYR-D-ALA-LEY-Enkefaline-ARG into the body of the caudate nuclei in dogs produced a manifested increase in parameters of Pavlovian alimentary conditioned reflexes. Moreover, the dose of 15 mcg of LEY-enkefaline enhanced the background salivation and prolonged food consumption. Excited dogs became calm. During analogous injections into the right lateral hypothalamus the effect diminished while injections of 15 mcg of morphine hydrochloride were ineffective. The data point to role of the enkefaline-containing system in alimentary behaviour.     

The role of the lateral and medial hypothalamus in reproducing food and escape instrumental reactions]

In experiments on two dogs it has been found that testing electric stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus reproduces instrumental movement in case of elaborated alimentary instrumental conditioned reflexes (CR) to a tone and does not reproduce it at elaborated acid-defensive instrumental CR. Under testing electric stimulation of the medial hypothalamus the instrumental movement practically is not reproduced neither in alimentary nor in defensive situation. Appearance of instrumental movement at LH electro-stimulation in alimentary situation is connected with activation of backward conditioned connection from motivation "alimentary" LH centre to representation of this movement in the motor cortex.     

Alimentary conditioned reflex behavior in the rat following injection of 6-hydroxydopamine into the caudate nucleus and nucleus accumbens

In Wistar rats with degenerated dopaminergic terminals of the caudate and accumbens nuclei (administration of 6-hydroxydopamine, 30 mcg, bilaterally), an alimentary conditioned reflex was elaborated in a T-maze. Degeneration of the caudate nucleus terminals disturbed the elaboration, while degeneration of N. accumbens terminals did not affect the learning.     

Conditioned reflex activity of pigeons as affected by an infra-low frequency alternating magnetic field

In experiments on 35 pigeons formation and realization was studied of alimentary motor conditioned reflexes under the influence of alternating magnetic field (AMF) with a frequency of 5 and 8 Hz and induction 5100 nTl. It has been found that under the action of such AMF, the percent of adequate responses lowers and the time of motor reaction during execution of motor alimentary conditioned reflexes and of delayed reactions increases. Realization of delayed reactions is disturbed more significantly than that of the present conditioned reflexes. AMF with a frequency of 8 Hz influences more expressively the pigeons conditioned activity in comparison with 5 Hz frequency.     

The influence of electrocoagulation of the septum and section of the entorhinal cortex on general behaviour and memory in cats

In chronic experiments on cats it was shown that the lesion of the medial part of the septum does not result in the "septal syndrome"; the ratio of the different sleep-wakefulness cycle phases remains within the baseline values; the acquisition, retrieval and extinction of instrumental alimentary conditioned reflexes proceed normally; the delayed conditioned reflexes are impaired. Massive septal lesion, including its lateral part, leads to the development of the "septal syndrome"; there are changes in the structure and percentage of the different sleep-wakefulness cycle phases; the acquisition and extinction of instrumental alimentary reflexes with the sound discrimination are markedly retarded; the performance of delayed conditioned reflexes is completely destroyed. The section of the entorhinal cortex produces an increase in the number of repeated errors and perseverative movements during performance of instrumental alimentary reflexes, the deceleration of the acquisition and extinction of instrumental alimentary reflexes, complete disturbance of the delayed conditioned reflexes and does not affect the sleep-wakefulness cycle. The problems of the role of the hippocampus and its main inputs in the regulation of the short-term operative memory in the "pure form" as well as the significance of the descending influence of the hippocampus on the regulation of general animal behavior were also discussed.     

Effect of successive lesions of the hippocampus and amygdaloid body on conditioned-reflex alimentary reactions in rabbits

Bilateral electrolytic lesions of the dorsal hippocamp and basolateral amygdalar complex impede the differential and extinctive inhibition. The damage of the corticomedial amygdala against a background of the dorsal hippocamp deficiency facilitates differentiation and extinction of alimentary reflexes induced by a decrease of the alimentary motivation and by weakening of alimentary conditioned reflexes. Lesions of the dorsal hippocamp after the corticomedial amygdala damage facilitates the training of positive alimentary reflexes, but weakens inhibitory conditioned reflexes.     

The vegetative component of a conditioned reflex]

Defensive and alimentary conditioned reflexes were studied on normal cats and cats with neural isolation of the neocortex. The cardiac component of the conditioned reflexes is elaborated in decorticated animals at a similar rate and is as steady as in normal cats. Motor conditioned reactions in decorticated cats are difficult to elaborate. Both in normal and decorticated cats unconditioned pain stimulation evokes tachycardia, while a conditioned signal, paired with this unconditioned stimulus, produces bradicardia. Ban assumption has been made that the primary conditioned reaction consists in the appearance of a certain emotional state which changes the cardiac rhythm in a typical way.