Effects of bilateral and unilateral neocortical lesions on schedule-induced polydipsia in rats

Fifteen adult female rats were subjected to one of the following surgical procedures: (1) bilateral neocortical ablation; (2) unilateral neocortical ablation; or (3) sham surgery. Following recovery, all rats were tested on a fixed-time 1-min food schedule for acquisition of schedule-induced polydipsia. Contrary to a previous report by Bigler, Fleming and Shearer [1], no attenuation of polydipsia was seen in either group of rats with neocortical damage.