ENHANCEMENT OF LATENT INHIBITION IN RATS WITH ELECTROLYTIC LESIONS OFTHE HIPPOCAMPUS

Two groups of rats-1 with electrolytic lesions of the hippocampus and 1 consisting of sham-operated controls-received flavor-aversion condit ioning with 2 flavors. All subjects had received prior nonreinforced e xposure to Flavor A. Latent inhibition was apparent in slower acquisit ion of the aversion to Flavor A than to Flavor B. Hippocampal lesions had no effect on acquisition to the nonpreexposed Flavor B but produce d a marked enhancement of the latent inhibition effect. The contrast b etween this result and previous findings of an attenuation of latent i nhibition in subjects with hippocampal lesions is discussed.