Hippocampal Electrical Activity and Operant Conditioning in the Dog

Abstract

<p>EEG activity was observed during operant reinforcement of single-press, multiple-press, and passive, avoidance responses in order to identity hippocampal theta activity as a central correlate of avoidance behavior in dogs. A clear relationship between theta activity and active skeletal behavior was found. To determine whether the occurrence of the avoidance response and its associated proprioceptive feedback were necessary for operant reinforcement to take place, two attempts were made to operantly reinforce hippocampal electrical activity in the absence or the avoidance response. Hippocampal theta activity was readily conditioned in naive deeply curarized dogs. The second attempt, with paralyzed avoidance pre-trained dogs, suggested that theta can be operantly reinforced but failed to demonstrate a normal state transfer effect on the avoidance response.</p>