Effects of basolateral or corticomedial amygdaloid lesions on grooming, consummatory, and locomotor behaviours in rats

Abstract

Grooming behaviour in rats was induced by limited water access and by water spray before and after corticomedial or basolateral amygdaloid lesions or control operations. Corticomedial lesions produced some attenuation of grooming induced by limited water access but increased grooming induced by water spray. Basolateral lesions did not consistently affect grooming. There was an increase in ambulation time following basolateral lesions and a relative decrease in feeding time following corticomedial lesions. There were no effects of either lesion on drinking or rearing. Detailed examination of both grooming and non-grooming behaviours provided little evidence for lesion induced disruption of response sequencing.