Retention and acquisition of fine temperature discriminations following somatosensory cortical lesions in the rat

Summary Rats with histologically confirmed bilateral lesions of one or both somatosensory cortical areas, occipital cortex, or sham operations were tested in a T-maze for retention of 29° vs. 39° C and 29° vs. 34° C temperature discriminations, and for acquisition of a 29° vs. 31° C habit. Statistical analyses failed to reveal group differences on the three postoperative discriminations. The suggestion that thermal habits are mediated by a diffuse and redundant forebrain afferent system is discussed. This investigation was supported by Biomedical Sciences Support Grant PR-07054 from the General Research Support Branch, Division of Research Resources, Bureau of Health Professions Education and Manpower Training, National Institutes of Health, by U.S.P.H.S. Grant 1-R03-MH17109-01 (MSM), and by N.S.F. Grant GB-12374 to the first author. A preliminary report has been presented at the annual meetings of the Psychonomics Society, St. Louis, November, 1969. The authors are indebted to John Morrison for his assistance on the project.