Preoperative enrichment and behavioral recovery in rats with septal lesions

Preoperative operant circling training facilitates recovery following unilateral substantia nigra lesion in rats

This study was undertaken to examine (1) whether pre- and/or postoperative training, using water reinforcement, to turn in circles (rotation) affects the behavioral symptoms induced by unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced DA denervation of the rat substantia nigra (SN); (2) whether there was any influence of this training on the temporal pattern of recovery; and (3) whether the rotational training influences turning induced by systemic injection of dopaminergic drugs. In the first experiment, rats were trained either ipsi- or contraversive (TI or TO) to the side to be damaged 11 days before and 23 days after lesion, and tested in an open field for rotational behavior following systemic administration of apomorphine and amphetamine. In the second experiment rats were trained only before the lesion was made and tested in the open field for spontaneous circling and thigmotactic behavior. The results of the first experiment indicated maintenance of the training performance after the lesion. At the 14th day after the lesion, the ipsiversive trained group showed a higher contraversive circling frequency after apomorphine injection in relation to the contralateral trained group. In the second experiment, rats trained only before the surgery, showed asymmetrical spontaneous circling in the trained direction before and 14 days after surgery, indicating, in a drug free condition, that training direction can be restored after unilateral SN lesions, even to the contralateral body side. Moreover, thigmotactic behavior indicated a lack of habituation in an open field in unilateral lesion rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Social intelligence, a neurological system?

Social intelligence has been researched for almost 70 yr. without definitive findings. During this period almost no attempts have been made to consider the complexity of the brain's anatomy and functions responsible for social competence. An ecological model focusing on social abilities within a biopsychosocial context is discussed along with supporting literature and an hypothesis for research. This argument invokes social intelligence as an independent brain system. It is suggested that neurological structures and chemical activities controlling social skills are directly influenced by the environment, individual beliefs, personal goals, and physiology.