Lesions suggest the lateral amygdala is partially involved in conditioned but not unconditioned defensive behavior in rats

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2004

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The current study exposed rats with lesions focused on the lateral amygdala to cat odor, a live cat, and shock and tested for subsequent conditioning to testing contexts. Significant differences between the LA and sham group were not found during exposure or during tests for conditioning 24-hours later. The results show that lesions of the LA altered the defensive behavior of rats in tests of short term conditioning immediately following shock and cat exposure. Following cat exposure the LA group engaged in less freezing and more crouch-sniff then controls. Following shock the LA group froze less and reared more than control rats. From the results, a number of debated roles for the lateral amygdala can be ruled out. It is concluded that the LA is important for conditioned defensive or residual emotional behavior, but not unconditioned defensive behavior.
The current study exposed rats with lesions focused on the lateral amygdala to cat odor, a live cat, and shock and tested for subsequent conditioning to testing contexts. Significant differences between the LA and sham group were not found during exposure or during tests for conditioning 24-hours later. The results show that lesions of the LA altered the defensive behavior of rats in tests of short term conditioning immediately following shock and cat exposure. Following cat exposure the LA group engaged in less freezing and more crouch-sniff then controls. Following shock the LA group froze less and reared more than control rats. From the results, a number of debated roles for the lateral amygdala can be ruled out. It is concluded that the LA is important for conditioned defensive or residual emotional behavior, but not unconditioned defensive behavior.

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Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2004.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 46-52).
52 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm

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Rats -- Defenses, Rats -- Nervous system, Fear in animals

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Theses for the degree of Master of Arts (University of Hawaii at Manoa). Psychology; no. 3142

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