Stimulation of the spinal trigeminal nucleus supports classical conditioning of the rabbit's nictitating membrane response
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Updated: Sep 8, 2026

Chronic Constriction Injury of the Rat's Infraorbital Nerve (IoN-CCI) to Study Trigeminal Neuropathic Pain
Published on: September 21, 2015
1University of Iowa.
Abstract:
Acquisition, extinction, and differential conditioning of the rabbit's nictitating membrane response to a tone conditioned stimulus were supported by electrical stimulation of the spinal trigeminal nucleus. Stimulation of the accessory abducens nucleus, the abducens nucleus, and the reticular formation at the level of the spinal trigeminal nucleus supported lower, transient levels of conditioning. The results are discussed in terms of stimulation of sensory inputs to the brainstem and cerebellum.
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