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Abstract

Experiments were undertaken to investigate whether learning of an inhibitory avoidance response and swim escape learning is possible in rats with telencephalic forebrain lesions. Two experiments provided evidence that inhibitory avoidance learning (using the single-trial up-hill avoindance taks) is still possivle after removal of all the forebrain structures except the hypothalamus. A third study using this preparation showed that this conditioned avoidance response can be eliminated as a consequence of punishment. Additionally, when the conditioned avoidance response was established prior to ablation, recall of this respose survived the lesion. In a further set of experiments it has been shown that hemi-or bilaterally decorticated rats are able to learn a swim escape taks by climbing a platform. The same was observed for hemidetelencephalated rats. Totally detelencephalated rats, however, failed to show this ability.