Precedence-effect-induced enhancement of prepulse inhibition in socially reared but not isolation-reared rats

摘要: Attention to a prepulse presented shortly before startling stimulus enhances inhibition (PPI) of startle in normal people, but not schizophrenics. Fear conditioning for the PPI socially reared, isolation-reared, rats. In humans, selective attention acoustic signals against masking can be facilitated by precedence-effect-induced perceived spatial separation between signal and masker. This study investigated whether noise masker reared rats isolation-reared The results show that both conditioning-induced enhancement were larger than More important, rats, further was induced only after became fear conditioned. Thus, facilitates rats’ conditioned PPI. Isolation rearing impairs ability attend ecologically significant events.