Septal lesions and activity.

Abstract

Rats with septal lesions were found to be considerably less active than an operated control group in the exercise or activity wheel, but to be considerably more active in exploring a strange cage than control Ss [subjects]. Habituation of cage exploration was normal or even superior to normal in the septal group, both within a session and between sessions. These results are not consistent with a hypothesis that septal lesions result in a state of chronically high drive, but do support the idea that the lesion produces an increase in reactivity to stimulation.