The hippocampus, context, and information processing

Two experiments are described in which groups of rats with bilateral hippocampal lesions, cortical lesions, and operated controls are compared on tests of discrimination learning, retention, and reversal learning. Experiment 1 examined the effects of varying prior training and context on new learning. Experiment 2 used a transfer paradigm to compare extent of original learning by hippocampal and control groups in a discrimination task involving multiple discriminanada . The major findings were that rats with hippocampal damage were less efficient at processing information and were more constrained by contextual influences than control rats.