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PubMedDate not supplied

Taste responsivity of amygdaloid units in behaving rabbit: a methodological report.

A technique is described for studying unit electrophysiology of taste in the behaving animal. Preliminary observations on response patterns by amygdaloid units to four putative basic types of taste qualities (represented by sucrose, saline, acid, and quinine), which also vary in motivational properties, revealed evidence of units with exclusive or highly differential response to either sucrose or saline in food-deprived animals. Small quantities (0.3 ml) of these palatable tastants injected intra-orally evoked neural responses lasting 5-8 sec that did not relate directly to the characteristics of the oro-lingual reaction as detected electromyographically; such sensorimotor relations were found in units sampled in the globus pallidus. Some amygdaloid units displayed differential excitatory and inhibitory modes of response to different tastants. Other cells exhibited more phasic patterns of response lasting 1-2 sec to 2 or more tastants, including unpalatable acid and quinine. The results underscore the sensitivity of the technique to stimulus parameters of taste-processing, which is basic to the study of all neurobehavioral functions of taste stimuli.

Amygdala↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Activation and lateralization of sensorimotor field for perioral biting reflex by intranigral GABA agonist and by systemic apomorphine in the rat.

In Experiment 1 unilateral injection of the GABA agonist, muscimol (20 ng in 0.1 microliter saline) into the substantia nigra (SN) of rats elicited contraversive turning and a correlated transient asymmetry in responsiveness to tactile stimulation of the mouth area. On the side of the face contralateral to the injected SN they responded stronger than on the ipsilateral side, and, furthermore, they responded to tactile stimulation with a withdrawal of the lip, followed by a vigorous biting of the probe. In Experiment 2, systemic injection of apomorphine also sensitized the perioral biting response to tactile stimulation. Unilateral injection into the SN of 8 micrograms 6-OHDA blocked this response to stimulation of the side of the face ipsilateral to the lesion. The experiments demonstrate: (1) pharmacological control of sensory-motor neglect, the asymmetry being determined by the direction of turning; and (2) a possible neuropharmacological basis of the perioral biting reflex, which may be related to certain types of aggressive behaviors.

Aggression↗
PubMed1982

Sensorimotor disturbances in the aging rodent.

Male rats that were 6, 12, 24, and 30 months of age were examined for sensory and motor functions, using a battery of tests of neurological capacities. An age-related decline in the ability to localize stimuli was observed, particularly in visually elicited forelimb placing. In addition, the old rats had impaired hindlimb reflexes (hindlimb placing and stepping reactions). Rats older than 12 months of age also showed abnormal tone of the forelimbs. These dysfunctions may contribute to the deterioration of complex movement sequences that has been reported in aging rodent species.

Aging↗
PubMed1982

Hind limb somatosensory evoked potentials in the monkey: the effects of distal axonopathy.

Computer-averaged short-latency somatosensory evoked potentials (SLSEP) to unilateral stimulation of the peroneal nerve were recorded from surface electrodes overlying the peripheral nerve, cauda equina, spinal cord, brainstem, and contralateral sensorimotor region. Seven monkeys were studied under normal conditions and at various stages of distal axonopathy induced by systematic acrylamide intoxication. With the use of a noncephalic reference, a series of five small-amplitude positive components were identified that precede the initial cortical activity. On the basis of timing and topography of the components, the source of the first one, SLSPEP1, was localized to the lumbar dorsal root fibers and that of the second, SLSEP2, to the ascending spinal tracts, principally gracile fasciculus. Bipolar recordings of the SLSEP2 overlying the rostral extreme of the cervical spinal cord provided a sensitive measure of the onset of distal axonopathy. Changes in the timing of this component antedated both abnormalities of spinal or peripheral nerve conduction and behavioral signs of intoxication. The initial alteration was specific to stimulation of the hind limb and was associated with early morphological change limited to the terminal and preterminal portions of the long axons in the gracile fasciculus.

Acrylamide↗
PubMed2004

Specific cerebellar activation during Braille reading in blind subjects.

The traditional view that the cerebellum is involved only in the control of movements has been changed recently. It has been suggested that the human cerebellum is involved in cognition and language. Likewise, besides cortical activity in sensorimotor and visual areas, an increased global activation of the cerebellum has been revealed during Braille reading in blind subjects. Our purpose was to investigate whether there is cerebellar activation during Braille reading by blind subjects other than sensorimotor activation related to finger movements. Early blind and normal sighted subjects were studied with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during Braille reading, tactile discrimination of nonsense dots, dots forming symbols, and finger tapping. The experiments were done in block design. Echo planar imaging sequences were carried out on a 1.5-T MR scanner. All blind individuals reading Braille showed robust activation of the posterior and lateral aspects of cerebellar hemispheral lobules Crus I bilaterally but more predominately on the right side. Additionally, activation was present in the medial cerebellum within lobules IV, V, and VIIIA, predominantly on the right. Discriminating nonsense dots did not reveal any activation of Crus I, but did reveal activation within the medial part of lobules IV, V, and VIIIA, predominately on the right. Analysis of sighted subjects during reading of printed text revealed activation of the posterolateral cerebellar hemisphere in Crus I bilaterally, predominantly on the right. Tactile analysis of dots representing symbols revealed an activation in lobules IV and VIII and in right Crus II but not in Crus I. In conclusion, parts of cerebellar activation during Braille reading in blind subjects (i.e., within lobules IV, V, and VIII) overlap with the known hand representation within the cerebellum and are likely related to the sensorimotor part of the task. Cerebellar activation during Braille reading within bilateral Crus I may be due to language processes or inner speech similar to those found during text reading in normal sighted subjects. Object recognition did not account for Crus I activation.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1988

Middle cerebral artery occlusion in the hypertensive and normotensive rat: a study of histopathology and behaviour.

Brain infarct size and behaviour were studied in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) 3 weeks after occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery in order to compare the effects of vascular occlusions on the normotensive and hypertensive cerebral vasculature. The brain tissue reduction, assessed by measuring the cross-sectional area of remaining tissue and weight of the cerebral hemispheres, was greater in SHR than in WKY (P less than 0.01). Deficits in sensorimotor integration were highly correlated to the degree of brain damage (r = 0.91). Amphetamine induced no rotation asymmetry in normal rats, whereas lesioned rats rotated more ipsilaterally to the lesion (P less than 0.05). Rotation asymmetry did not correlate with total infarct size. The more severe outcome after middle cerebral artery occlusion in SHR as opposed to WKY, can probably be explained by reduced collateral capacity secondary to the altered vascular design in hypertension.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Functional subdivisions of the rat somatic sensorimotor cortex.

The behavioural impairments and subsequent recovery were studied in rats with circumscribed unilateral lesions in the somatic sensorimotor cortex (SMC). Lesions were made in the caudal forelimb region (CFL), the rostral forelimb region (RFL), the anteromedial cortex (AMC) or the hindlimb area. Rats with damage in the CFL produced a deficit in placing the forelimb contralateral to the lesion during exploratory locomotion on a grid surface. Rats with AMC damage circled in the direction ipsilateral to the lesion. Lesions in the CFL or AMC produced an ipsilateral somatosensorimotor asymmetry on the bilateral-stimulation test (responding to adhesive patches placed on the contralateral forelimb was slower) that recovered in 7 days following AMC lesions or 28 days following CFL lesions. Finally, RFL lesions produced an ipsilateral asymmetry on the bilateral-stimulation task that was more severe and enduring (recovery in 60 days). After behavioral recovery, the effects of an additional lesion placed in the homotopic contralateral cortex were examined (two-stage bilateral lesion). Rats receiving two-stage bilateral lesions in the RFL or CFL responded slower to tactile stimulation of the forelimb contralateral to the second lesion. In the case of CFL-damaged rats, placing deficits also appeared contralateral to the most recent injury. In contrast, rats receiving two-stage bilateral AMC lesions did not exhibit behavioral asymmetries following the second lesion. These results provide evidence to suggest that subdivisions of the rat SMC can be distinguished with lesion/behavioral experiments. Moreover, a comparison of the effects of unilateral and two-stage bilateral lesions may help in the parcellation of the rat SMC into functionally distinct subareas and provide a basis for studying the processes of recovery and maintenance of function following brain damage.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Isolation rearing-induced deficits in prepulse inhibition and locomotor habituation are not potentiated by water deprivation.

Prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle reflex is an operational measure of sensorimotor gating and is reduced in neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. Isolation rearing of rats is a developmentally specific, nonpharmacological manipulation that leads to deficits in sensorimotor gating that mimic those observed in schizophrenia patients. This study examined the effects of an added stressor (water deprivation) on the magnitude of the isolation rearing effect on PPI and locomotor activity. At the time of weaning, male (n = 80) and female (n = 80) rats were assigned to either social housing or isolation housing and were subsequently assigned to the water-deprived or non-water-deprived groups. Rats were tested for acoustic startle and PPI at 3, 5 and 7 weeks postweaning. Isolated rats showed a significant decrease in PPI that was apparent at all 3 weeks. Water deprivation did not significantly affect PPI, nor was there a significant interaction between housing and water treatment or between sex and housing. When tested in the Behavior Pattern Monitor to assess locomotor activity, isolated rats displayed decreased habituation across the 1-h test session. Water deprivation did not affect locomotor activity in any significant, independent manner, nor did it potentiate the effects of isolation rearing on locomotor habituation. In these studies, both male and female Long-Evans rats were sensitive to the PPI-disruptive and locomotor-activating effects of social isolation. Isolation rearing significantly disrupts PPI and locomotor habituation independent of any effects of water deprivation.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Dopamine depletion, stimulation or blockade in the rat disrupts spatial navigation and locomotion dependent upon beacon or distal cues.

Rats depleted of dopamine by intraventricular or nigrostriatal bundle 6-hydroxydopamine injection were compared with normal rats on acquisition and retention of place and cue navigation in the Morris swimming pool test and on a battery of sensorimotor tests. Rats with extensive bilateral dopamine depletions were able to swim vigorously, but were unable to acquire either the place or cue task. Rats with unilateral lesions, although impaired in the rate of acquisition were eventually able to learn both tasks to close to normal levels. Animals pretrained on the tasks prior to the lesions displayed retention deficits that were related to the extent of dopamine depletion: after extensive depletions, performance on both tasks deteriorated until successful navigation was abolished, whereas incomplete depletions impaired but did not abolish performance on either task. In separate groups of pretrained animals, both dopamine antagonists (haloperidol, alpha-flupenthixol) and agonists (apomorphine, metamphetamine) blocked performance on both place and cue tasks, although there were individual differences in sensitivity of the rats. Performance on the place task was more sensitive to disruption than the cue task both by the lesions and by haloperidol, alpha-flupenthixol or apormorphine but not by metamphetamine. On the sensorimotor tests dopamine-depleted rats were impaired at visual but not contact placing, they oriented weakly to snout touches and surfaces but not to distal stimuli, and they were akinetic on a number of tests of motor function but when wet they displayed as many grooming movements and groomed as long as did normal rats. The results suggest that dopamine depletion may impair spatial navigation by a disruption of their ability to use distal cues for guidance.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Control of sensorimotor function by dopaminergic nigrostriatal neurons: influence on eating and drinking.

The literature on the effects of lesions of the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) on eating and drinking is reviewed in an effort to understand the function of the neural substrate destroyed. The data suggest that damage to the dopaminergic nigrostriatal neurons that course through the LHA results in a decrease in sensorimotor facilitation; that is, an increase in the threshold for responding to stimuli that elicit orientation, approach and consumption. This increase results in decreased consumption of food and water. Evidence is also reviewed suggesting the possibility that striatal dopaminergic activity may mediate a negative feedback signal related to blood glucose level that influences responsiveness to food, and therefore eating. There is no evidence that the nigrostriatal system mediates a similar signal related to water balance and drinking. A second deficit associated with LHA lesions, caused by damage to the pallidofugal neurons that descend through this area, is a dysfunction of motor control of the head and mouth. This results in an increase in the effort required to consume food and water, also leading to decreased consumption. These two behavioral factors: an increased threshold for responding to the sensory properties of food and water and an increase in the effort required to eat and drink are used to explain the symptoms making up the lateral hypothalamic syndrome without postulating changes in physiological regulatory (set point) mechanisms.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Dopamine depletion of the nucleus accumbens reverses isolation-induced deficits in prepulse inhibition in rats.

Rearing rats in social isolation from weaning into adulthood leads to deficits in prepulse inhibition and alterations in monoamine systems that modulate prepulse inhibition. For example, rats reared in social isolation have elevated dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens. Previous studies in rats have shown that nucleus accumbens dopamine depletion with 6-hydroxydopamine blocks the prepulse inhibition-disruptive effects of amphetamine, an indirect dopamine agonist. We tested the hypothesis that prepulse-inhibition deficits in isolation-reared rats are dependent on elevated dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens. Specifically, we examined whether nucleus accumbens dopamine depletion would attenuate the isolation-induced disruption of prepulse inhibition. Isolation-housed female Long-Evans rats exhibited deficient prepulse inhibition. At 9 weeks post weaning, bilateral injections of 6-hydroxydopamine (8 microg/side) or ascorbic acid vehicle (0.1%) into the nucleus accumbens of social and isolation-reared rats were performed (8-10 rats per group). One week after surgery, prepulse inhibition deficits were exhibited by isolation-reared rats that received vehicle infusion into the nucleus accumbens, but not by those that received 6-hydroxydopamine infusions into the nucleus accumbens. 6-Hydroxydopamine infusions did not significantly change prepulse inhibition in socially reared rats. Behavioral and neurochemical evidence of nucleus accumbens dopamine depletion included: 1) a blockade of amphetamine-stimulated locomotor activity in nucleus accumbens 6-hydroxydopamine-infused isolated and socially reared rats; and 2) high performance liquid chromatography measurements demonstrating a significant depletion of accumbens dopamine and its major metabolites, in addition to decreases in dopamine, homovanillic acid, and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid levels in the frontal cortex and anterior caudate. These data indicate that dopamine in the nucleus accumbens plays an essential role in the prepulse inhibition deficits associated with isolation rearing in female Long-Evans rats. The implication of a central role of nucleus accumbens dopamine in prepulse inhibition deficits in an animal model provides further evidence for a link between overactive dopamine function and sensorimotor-gating deficits in patients with schizophrenia.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed2005

Motor impairment and recovery in the upper limb after stroke: behavioral and neuroanatomical correlates.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Motor recovery after stroke is associated with cerebral reorganization. However, few studies have investigated the relationship directly, and findings are equivocal. We therefore aimed to characterize the relationship between motor impairment, motor recovery, and task-related changes in regional cerebral blood flow (DeltarCBF) longitudinally. METHODS: We obtained a profile of motor impairment and recovery in the upper limb and conducted positron emission tomography motor activation studies using a simple finger-tapping task in 9 stroke patients 2 to 7 weeks after stroke and 6 months later. For correlation analysis, mean images of task-related DeltarCBF for each individual were linearly regressed with motor impairment scores. Motor recovery was correlated with longitudinal DeltarCBF images. RESULTS: Patients (7 males; 72.0+/-9.8 years) demonstrated a wide range of impairment severity and variable recovery. Upper-limb motor function was linearly correlated with task-related DeltarCBF. Importantly, sites of correlated DeltarCBF differed over time. Subacutely correlated DeltarCBF was observed in supplementary motor area (SMA), bilateral cingulate, and contralesional insula with a small area in ipsilesional primary sensorimotor cortex (SM1). Conversely, at the 6-month study, correlated DeltarCBF was primarily in ipsilesional SM1, extending to the cingulate gyrus. Better motor recovery was correlated with reduction in contralesional activity and increase in ipsilesional SM1. CONCLUSIONS: Upper-limb motor function and recovery are correlated with DeltarCBF in SMA, cingulate, insula, and SM1, highlighting the role of these areas in the recovery process. The dynamic nature of the relationship suggests ongoing adaptation within motor networks.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Epileptogenesis and enhanced prepulse inhibition in GABA(B1)-deficient mice.

The recent cloning of two GABA(B) receptor subunits, GABA(B1) and GABA(B2), has raised the possibility that differences in GABA(B) receptor subunit composition may give rise to pharmacologically or functionally distinct receptors. If present, such molecular diversity could permit the selective targeting of GABA(B) receptor subtypes specifically involved in pathologies such as drug addiction, spasticity, pain, and epilepsy. To address these issues we have developed a GABA(B1) subunit knockout mouse using gene targeting techniques. In the brains of GABA(B1) null mice, all pre- and postsynaptic GABA(B) receptor function was absent demonstrating that the GABA(B1) subunit is essential for all GABA(B) receptor-mediated mechanisms. Despite this, GABA(B1) null mice appeared normal at birth, although by postnatal week four their growth was retarded and they developed a generalized epilepsy that resulted in premature death. In addition, GABA(B1) heterozygote animals showed enhanced prepulse inhibition responses compared to littermate controls, suggesting that GABA(B1) deficient mice exhibit increased sensorimotor gating mechanisms. These data suggest that GABA(B) receptor antagonists may be of benefit in the treatment of psychiatric and neurological disorders in which attentional processing is impaired.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed2003

Motor-related functional subdivisions of human lateral premotor cortex: epicortical recording in conditional visuomotor task.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the functional subdivisions of the human lateral premotor cortex (PM) in the visuomotor control. METHODS: Event-related potentials (ERPs) were epicortically recorded from PM in 5 epilepsy patients. S1-Go/NoGo choice delayed reaction time (RT), S1-warned S2-Go simple RT and control fixation paradigms were compared using paired visual stimuli (S1, S2). RESULTS: Signal-related activity peaked at 176-194 ms after S1 in the ventrorostral PM (PMvr) in all 3 paradigms, indicating its role in signal perception. Early set-related activity was recorded with its peak <810 ms after S1 in the dorsorostral PM (PMdr) and was larger in the choice than in the simple RT paradigm, suggesting its role in signal selection. Its cognitive component was recorded as surface-positive transients at PMdr, while its motoric aspect, seen as negative transients, extended to the caudal PM. Late sustained set-related activity was observed in preparation for hand movement in the caudal PM at the hand and face positive motor areas. After presentation of S2, movement-related activity was observed at the hand sensorimotor area for motor execution, following the signal-related activity at PMvr. CONCLUSIONS: The present ERP study suggests the temporally sequential representation of predominantly 'cognitive' function in the rostral PM and 'motor' function in the caudal PM. SIGNIFICANCE: The rostrocaudal cognitive-motor gradient was demonstrated in the lateral premotor cortex in humans by means of an epicortical ERP approach.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Limbic seizures originating in the olfactory bulb: an electro-behavioral and glucose metabolism study.

We studied seizures which were induced by a microinjection of kainic acid (KA) into the unilateral olfactory bulb (OB) in the rats. The first epileptiform discharge appeared in the OB, was then propagated to the amygdala and the hippocampus unilaterally, and finally propagated to the unilateral sensori-motor cortex. Consistent graded behavioral changes, almost identical to those of the amygdaloid and hippocampal seizures, occurred during the development of the seizures, and three stages were classified: stage 1 was staring, stage 2 consisted of masticatory movement and stage 3 demonstrated rearing and rearing and falling. Local cerebral glucose utilization (LCGU) measured with the [14C]2-deoxyglucose method revealed a graded propagation of seizure activities at each stage in the unilateral structures. At stage 1, the increased activities propagated from the OB localized in the anterior olfactory nucleus; at stage 2, the endopiriform nucleus, the nucleus accumbens, the entorhinal cortex, the ventral globus pallidus and the globus pallidus were all activated; at stage 3, the thalamic nuclei (mediodorsal, ventrolateral, ventromedial and centromedian nuclei), the substantia nigra pars reticulata, the entopeduncular nucleus and the sensorimotor cortex were also activated. The globus pallidus, which receives afferent fibers from the nucleus accumbens, was the first structure that was activated metabolically among the extralimbic structures. No metabolic activation occurred in the amygdala and the hippocampus in spite of the early propagation of epileptiform discharges to these structures on EEG. These results suggest that OB seizures involve the limbic structures, while the amygdala and the hippocampus have a little contribution to OB seizures. In addition, the nucleus accumbens plays an important role as a functional interface between the limbic and the motor system in OB seizures.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Autism: a medical primer.

Autistic disorder, a pervasive developmental disorder resulting in social, language, or sensorimotor deficits, occurs in approximately seven of 10,000 persons. Early detection and intervention significantly improve outcome, with about one third of autistic persons achieving some degree of independent living. Indications for developmental evaluation include no babbling, pointing, or use of other gestures by 12 months of age, no single words by 16 months of age, no two-word spontaneous phrases by 24 months of age, and loss of previously learned language or social skills at any age. The differential diagnosis includes other psychiatric and pervasive developmental disorders, deafness, and profound hearing loss. Autism is frequently associated with fragile X syndrome and tuberous sclerosis, and may be caused by lead poisoning and metabolic disorders. Common comorbidities include mental retardation, seizure disorder, and psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety. Behavior modification programs are helpful and are usually administered by multidisciplinary teams, targeted medication is used to address behavior concerns. Many different treatment approaches can be used, some of which are unproven and have little scientific support. Parents may be encouraged to investigate national resources and local support networks.

Autistic Disorder↗
PubMed2006

Validating biorobotic models.

Some issues in neuroscience can be addressed by building robot models of biological sensorimotor systems. What we can conclude from building models or simulations, however, is determined by a number of factors in addition to the central hypothesis we intend to test. These include the way in which the hypothesis is represented and implemented in simulation, how the simulation output is interpreted, how it is compared to the behaviour of the biological system, and the conditions under which it is tested. These issues will be illustrated by discussing a series of robot models of cricket phonotaxis behaviour.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Light deprivation soon after frontal brain trauma accelerates recovery from attentional deficits and promotes functional normalization of basal ganglia.

BACKGROUND: Light deprivation significantly accelerates recovery from attention deficits (neglect) after cortical ablation in rats. We hypothesized that light deprivation would improve recovery after traumatic contusive brain injury (TBI) and do so by enhancing dopaminergic function in the ipsilateral basal ganglia. METHODS: Adult rats received left frontal contusion injury and were placed into darkness or standard light/dark cycling for 48 hours. Neurologic evaluation included attentional and sensorimotor tasks. Amphetamine-induced production of the immediate early gene protein product Fos was quantified to determine neuronal dopaminergic response in caudate-putamen (striatum). RESULTS: Unilateral frontal TBI produced severe contralateral deficits in all tasks. Postoperative light deprivation resulted in improved recovery from attentional but not sensorimotor deficits. Five days after injury, ipsilateral striatal Fos expression was reduced by 51% in TBI rats experiencing normal light cycling (p < 0.006). In contrast, postoperative light deprivation normalized striatal Fos expression. By 6 weeks, all TBI rats demonstrated nearly full recovery and striatal Fos expression was symmetrical between the two striata. CONCLUSION: Postoperative light deprivation may improve recovery from TBI-induced attention deficits by normalizing basal ganglia function.

Amphetamine↗