Evaluation of enhanced thigmotaxis as a condition of impaired maze learning by rats with hippocampal lesions.

Abstract

Eighteen rats with hippocampal lesions, 16 lesioned controls, and 20 operated controls were tested on either an elevated (without walls) or an alley 4-unit T maze to investigate the hypothesis that the deficit in maze learning by rats with hippocampal lesions resulted from a les ion-induced enhancement of the rat''s natural tendency to follow walls (thigmotaxis). Compared with controls Ss [subjects] with hippocampal lesions showed a significant loss on both mazes, so enhanced thigmotaxis did not account for the loss in maze learning by hippocampal lesioned rats. Very small bilateral lesions in the hippocampus impaired maze learning early in the learning process.