Biomaterial Database

Enhanced passive avoidance learning and appetitive T-maze learning with post-trial rewarding hypothalamic stimulation. 1978

J P Huston, and C C Mueller

Experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of post-trial reinforcing stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus on learning in rats. The reinforcing stimulation was always presented for a duration of 20--30 sec (0.2 sec on/0.8 sec off), and was administered either immediately, 30 sec delayed or 300 sec delayed after exposure to the learning situation. In experiment 1 post-trial stimulation led to improved passive avoidance learning of an alcove-avoidance task when presented 30 sec compared to immediately after the footshock. In Experiment 2 reversal learning of a one-way shuttle-box avoidance task was facilitated by 30 sec delayed, but not 300 sec delayed post-trial reinforcing stimulation. In Experiment 3 appetitive left-right discrimination was investigated using a T-maze task. Thirty sec delayed post-trial reinforcing stimulation presented contingent on errors facilitated learning of this task. Together, the 3 studies provide further support for the hypothesis that reinforcers directly influence labile memory processes (such as short-term memory) and thereby improve learning.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007031	Hypothalamus	Ventral part of the DIENCEPHALON extending from the region of the OPTIC CHIASM to the caudal border of the MAMMILLARY BODIES and forming the inferior and lateral walls of the THIRD VENTRICLE.	Lamina Terminalis,Preoptico-Hypothalamic Area,Area, Preoptico-Hypothalamic,Areas, Preoptico-Hypothalamic,Preoptico Hypothalamic Area,Preoptico-Hypothalamic Areas
D008297	Male		Males
D011930	Reaction Time	The time from the onset of a stimulus until a response is observed.	Response Latency,Response Speed,Response Time,Latency, Response,Reaction Times,Response Latencies,Response Times,Speed, Response,Speeds, Response
D012153	Retention, Psychology	The persistence to perform a learned behavior (facts or experiences) after an interval has elapsed in which there has been no performance or practice of the behavior.	Psychological Retention,Retention (Psychology),Psychology Retention,Retention, Psychological
D004558	Electric Stimulation	Use of electric potential or currents to elicit biological responses.	Stimulation, Electric,Electrical Stimulation,Electric Stimulations,Electrical Stimulations,Stimulation, Electrical,Stimulations, Electric,Stimulations, Electrical
D005108	Extinction, Psychological	The procedure of presenting the conditioned stimulus without REINFORCEMENT to an organism previously conditioned. It refers also to the diminution of a conditioned response resulting from this procedure.	Psychological Extinction,Extinction (Psychology),Extinctions (Psychology),Extinctions, Psychological,Psychological Extinctions
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001070	Appetitive Behavior	Animal searching behavior. The variable introductory phase of an instinctive behavior pattern or sequence, e.g., looking for food, or sequential courtship patterns prior to mating.	Searching Behavior,Appetitive Behaviors,Behavior, Appetitive,Behavior, Searching,Behaviors, Appetitive,Behaviors, Searching,Searching Behaviors
D001362	Avoidance Learning	A response to a cue that is instrumental in avoiding a noxious experience.	Aversion Behavior,Aversion Learning,Aversive Behavior,Aversive Learning,Avoidance Behavior,Aversion Behaviors,Aversive Behaviors,Avoidance Behaviors,Behavior, Aversion,Behavior, Aversive,Behavior, Avoidance,Behaviors, Aversion,Behaviors, Aversive,Behaviors, Avoidance,Learning, Aversion,Learning, Aversive,Learning, Avoidance
D012193	Reversal Learning	Any situation where an animal or human is trained to respond differentially to two stimuli (e.g., approach and avoidance) under reward and punishment conditions and subsequently trained under reversed reward values (i.e., the approach which was previously rewarded is punished and vice versa).	Learning, Reversal,Learnings, Reversal,Reversal Learnings