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Recovery from perseverative behavior after entorhinal cortex lesions in rats
J J Ramirez1, R Labbe, D G Stein
1Department of Psychology, Davidson College, NC 28036.
Brain Research
|August 30, 1988
Summary
Bilateral entorhinal cortex lesions cause spatial alternation deficits in rats. Postoperative testing, not hippocampal sprouting, facilitated recovery from perseveration.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Neuroplasticity
Background:
- Entorhinal cortex lesions in rats cause perseveration in spatial alternation tasks.
- This perseveration resolves as the dentate gyrus undergoes reinnervation and sprouting.
- The relationship between sprouting and recovery from perseveration requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of hippocampal sprouting in recovery from entorhinal cortex lesion-induced perseveration.
- To determine if the timing of postoperative testing influences the resolution of perseverative behavior.
Main Methods:
- Bilateral entorhinal cortex lesions were induced in rats.
- Two groups were tested: one starting 2 days post-lesion, the other 12 days post-lesion.
- Performance on a spatial alternation task was compared to sham-operated controls.
Main Results:
- Both lesioned groups showed significantly more perseveration than controls initially.
- Perseveration persisted for 6-12 days in both lesion groups.
- Recovery occurred regardless of whether testing began early or late relative to sprouting.
Conclusions:
- Postoperative testing is crucial for overcoming perseveration after entorhinal cortex lesions.
- Recovery from perseveration is independent of the timing of dentate gyrus sprouting.