Visual relational (“categorical”) learning and performance by rats with temporal or partial striate cortical lesions

摘要: Previous research has shown that injuries of the inferotemporal cortex in monkeys result impaired visual “categorical” perception. The goal this project was to explore possibility a similar deficit might accompany portions temporal rat, namely area TE2. Rats were prepared with bilateral TE2, partial striate, or sham cortical lesions and trained discriminate between 17- (S+) 3-cm (S−) diameter circles Y-shaped water maze. After criterion on discrimination reached, tests relational perception conducted intermediate-size stimuli. larger two stimulus pairs consistently cued location submerged escape platform. Not only did rats TE2 learn original as rapidly normal striate lesions, but their performance paralleled other groups all intermediate Several possible explanations for discrepancy results observed here those nonhuman primates are discussed.