Asymmetrical state dependency from temporary septal area dysfunction in rats.

Abstract

Rats with cannulas implanted in the septal area were conditioned, tested, or both conditioned and tested shortly after intracerebral injection of local anesthetic via the cannulas. A 2 X 2 factorial design was used to determine whether the presumed state of temporary septal area dysfunction, previously shown to produce amnesia, has state-dependent properties. A state-dependent learning effect was observed in the rats both conditioned and tested in the dysfunctional stat remembered the aversive conditioning better than those conditioned in the dysfunctional state but tested in the normal state. Since rats conditioned in the normal state but tested during septal dysfunction did appear to exhibit conditioned fear when tested, the state-dependent effect was asymmetrical. Performance effects of the procaine injection were observed and accounted for in determining the state-dependent nature of temporary septal area dysfunction.