Spontaneous alternation in rats with lesions in the frontal lobes: An extension of the frontal lobe syndrome

Abstract

Bilateral lesions in the anteromedial neocortex or the associated part of the neostriatum abolished spontaneous alternation in rats; removal of the suprarhinal strip did not. The classical deficit of spatial choice following frontal-lobe injury is not an artifact of the learning paradigm, but can be extended to unconditioned behavior. Furthermore, the impairment is not restricted to food-reinforced or massed responses. The response-guiding role of the frontal lobe is of such wide generality in the laboratory that it can be expected to operate in the animal’s usual environment as well.