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Cerebellar Inactivation Impairs Cross Modal Savings of Eyeblink Conditioning
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Cerebellar Inactivation Impairs Cross Modal Savings of Eyeblink Conditioning

Matthew M Campolattaro and John H Freeman
Behavioral neuroscience, Vol.123(2), pp.292-302
04/2009
DOI: 10.1037/a0014483
PMCID: PMC2679372
PMID: 19331453
url
http://doi.org/10.1037/a0014483View
Open Access

Abstract

Eyeblink conditioning using a conditioned stimulus (CS) from one sensory modality (e.g., an auditory CS) is greatly enhanced when the subject is previously trained with a CS from a different sensory modality (e.g., a visual CS). The enhanced acquisition to the second modality CS results from cross modal savings. The current study was designed to examine the role of the cerebellum in establishing cross modal savings in eyeblink conditioning with rats. In the first experiment rats were given paired or unpaired presentations with a CS (tone or light) and an unconditioned stimulus. All rats were then given paired training with a different modality CS. Only rats given paired training showed cross modal savings to the second modality CS. Experiment 2 showed that cerebellar inactivation during initial acquisition to the first modality CS completely prevented savings when training was switched to the second modality CS. Experiment 3 showed that cerebellar inactivation during initial cross modal training also prevented savings to the second modality stimulus. These results indicate that the cerebellum plays an essential role in establishing cross modal savings of eyeblink conditioning.
associative learning classical conditioning cerebellar cortex eyelid conditioning interpositus nucleus

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