Inactivation of the ventral tegmental area abolished the general excitatory influence of Pavlovian cues on instrumental performance
Year: 2006
Type: preprint
Abstract: Pavlovian stimuli can markedly elevate instrumental responding, an effect known as Pavlovian-instrumental transfer (PIT). As the role of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in PIT is yet unknown, we examined the effects of transient VTA inactivation by direct microinjections of a mixture of the GABA(A) and GABA(B) receptor agonists, muscimol and baclofen. Results reveal that PIT, i.e., the increase in instrumental responding during presentation of a Pavlovian stimulus, was abolished by intra-VTA microinjections of muscimol/baclofen. These data provide the first evidence that the VTA mediates Pavlovian influences on instrumental behavior.
Source: Learning & Memory
DOI: 10.1101/lm.127106
Authors: Anja Murschall, Wolfgang Hauber
Institution: University of Stuttgart
Language: English
Subfield: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Funder: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
OpenAlex ID: W2148347358