Discrimination between aversive brain stimulations: effect of stimulation parameters

Rats placed in a T maze were shown to be able to discriminate between two stimulations applied to one and the same brain site and inducing aversive effects of different magnitude. Discrimination occurred irrespective of whether the two stimulations differed in either intensity or frequency, and irrespective of whether they were applied to a medial hypothalamic or to a mesencephalic central gray site. Generalization experiments were performed in which either the stimulation parameter used to establish the discrimination or another parameter was varied. The results show that the animal's choice cannot be predicted on the sole basis of either the electrical charge/second applied or the escape latency induced.