[Organization of interneuronal relationships in the nucleus accumbens during impulsive and self-control behavior in cats]

Full Abstract

Under conditions of a choice between a high-valuable delayed and a low-valuable immediate food rewards, cats were divided into 3 groups on the basis of their individual strategy of behavior: (1) choosing predominantly the high-valuable reward because of inhibition of the instrumental response (capable of self-control), (2) choosing predominantly the immediate low-valuable reward (impulsive), and (3) with a mixed pattern of reactions (ambivalent). Coherent activity of nucleus accumbens neurons which was a characteristic of interactions between nearby cells was assessed by the method of crosscorrelation. It was found that the total number of interneuronal interactions in cats capable of self-control exceeded that displayed by impulsive cats. In those rare cases when impulsive cats performed long-latency responses not typical of them, the number of interneuronal interactions was the same as during the self-control behavior. In animals of different groups, the number of interneuronal interactions was higher during erroneous responses as compared to correctly performed reactions. The results suggest an important role of systemic activity of neurons in the nucleus accumbens in the organization of the long-latency reaction pattern, characteristic of self-control behavior.

Author information

Author/s: Kuleshova, E P (EP); Dolbakian, E E (EE); Grigor'ian, G A (GA); Merzhanova, G Kh (GKh);

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: English Abstract; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Zhurnal vysshei nervnoi deiatelnosti imeni I P Pavlova (Zh Vyssh Nerv Deiat Im I P Pavlova), published in Russia (Federation). (Language: rus)

Reference: -2008 Mar-Apr; vol 58 (issue 2) : pp 172-82

Dates: Created 2008/07/29; Completed 2008/09/15;

PMID: 18661779, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 2/18/2009)

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