Active avoidance conditioning with dorsal central gray stimulation in a place preference paradigm

Abstract

Avoidance conditioning in response to aversive dorsal central gray stimulation was examined in a simple place preference task that minimized response demands and provided highly salient environmental cues. In contrast to shuttlebox avoidance learning with central gray stimulation, a high incidence of active avoidance learning was observed. The results suggest that poor avoidance in a shuttlebox task with central gray stimulation reflects task complexity rather than a fundamental inability to associate environmental cues with the consequences of central gray stimulation.