Operant conditioning of trigeminally-evoked cortical potentials: Correlated effects on facial nociception

Robert Dowman, J. Peter Rosenfeld*, Mary Heinricher

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

The effects of operant conditioning somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) amplitude on nociceptive sensitivity were studied in albino rats. SEPs were evoked by stimulation to the descending trigeminal tract. Rewarding medial forebrain bundle stimulation (at intensities predetermined to sustain bar pressing) was made contingent upon the animal making the amplitude of the SEP 0.5 standard deviation (S.D.) larger (uptraining) or 0.5 S.D. smaller (downtraining) than the predetermined mean value. Nociceptive sensitivity was measured immediately following the conditioning session by heating the rat's face and noting the latency of a defensive face rubbing response directed at the area of the face. Increasing the amplitude of the SEP (uptraining) was associated with a decrease in noxious sensitivity. Decreasing the amplitude of the SEP (downtraining) was associated with an increase in noxious sensitivity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)111-118
Number of pages8
JournalBrain research
Volume269
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 13 1983

Funding

Supported by NIDR Grant DE05204 and NIGMS Grant GM23696 to J.P.R; NSERC (Canada) Grant 53-304-10-SO-1001 to R.D.J. D. Rosenfeld prepared graphics.

Keywords

  • operant conditioning of neural activity
  • pain
  • somatosensory evoked potential
  • trigeminal

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Neurology
  • Molecular Biology
  • General Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology

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