Mesencephalic dopaminergic unit activity in the behaviorally conditioned rat

摘要: Abstract The activity of single dopamine (DA)-containing cells in the medial substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area was recorded awake behaving rats. These rats were trained, using either instrumental or classical conditioning techniques, to respond for chocolate milk reinforcement. More than 50% tested showed changes firing pattern associated with some aspect conditioned response. Furthermore, incidence active DA their rates increased animals given receptor blocker, haloperidol. Our results indicate that change following behaviorally relevant stimuli, spontaneously neurons is low rat.