Unilateral substantia nigra lesions and schedule-induced polydipsia

The present experiment investigated the effects of unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the substantia nigra (SN) on schedule-induced polydipsia (SIP). Lesions were made in either the "dominant" or "non-dominant" hemisphere as defined by an amphetamine rotation test. It was found that unilateral lesions of either the "dominant" or "non-dominant" SN significantly reduced SIP and also significantly impaired somatosensory responsiveness as indicated by the "tactile extinction test." Somatosensory neglect was significantly greater following a lesion in the "dominant" hemisphere than "non-dominant" hemisphere.