Abstract
This investigation was concerned with the question of whether amnesias for simple visual tasks which result from injuries to the visual cortex can be corrected via training on other visual tasks. Such effects were noted, but only when the problems shared a common mode of solution. It was also observed, in contradiction to a classical conclusion of Lashley, that extensive preoperative overtraining conveys some protection of postoperative performance of the black-white discrimination problem.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Braun, J. J., Meyer, P. M., & Meyer, D. R. Sparing of a brightness habit in rats following visual decortication. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1965, 61, 79–82.
Chow, K. L. Conditions influencing the recovery of visual discriminative habits in monkeys following temporal neocortical ablations. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1952, 45, 430–437.
Gellermann, L. W. Chance orders of alternating stimuli in visual discrimination experiments. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 1933, 42, 207–208.
Glendenning, R. L. Effects of training between two unilateral lesions of visual cortex upon ultimate retention of black-white habits by rats. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1972, 80, 216–229.
Horel, J. A., Bettinger, L. A., Royce, G. J., & Meyer, D. R. Role of neocortex in the learning and relearning of two visual habits by the rat. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1966, 61, 66–78.
Howarth, H., Meyer, D. R., & Meyer, P. M. Perinatal injuries to the visual cortex enhance the significance of extra-visual cortex for performance of a visual habit. Physiological Psychology, 1979, 7, 163–166.
Jonason, K. R., Lauber, S. M., Robbins, M. J., Meyer, P. M., & Meyer, D. R. Effects of amphetamine upon relearning pattern and black-white discriminations following neocortical lesions in rats. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1970,73, 47–55.
Kircher, K. A., Braun, J. J., Meyer, D. R., & Meyer, P. M. Equivalence of simultaneous and successive neocortical ablations in production of impairments of retention of black-white habits in rats. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1970, 71, 420–425.
Lavond, D. G., Hata, M. G., Gray, T. S., Geckler, C. L., Meyer, P. M., & Meyer, D. R. Visual form perception is a function of the visual cortex. Physiological Psychology, 1978, 6, 471–477.
Lashley, K. S. Studies of cerebral function in learning. II. The effects of long-continued practice upon cerebral localization. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 1921, 1, 453–468.
Lashley, K. S. The mechanism of vision: XII. Nervous structures concerned in habits based on reactions to light. Comparative Psychology Monographs, 1935, 11, 43–79.
Levere, T. E., & Davis, N. Recovery of function after brain damage: The motivational specificity of spared neural traces. Experimental Neurology, 1977, 57, 883–889.
Levere, T. E., & Morlock, G. W. Nature of visual recovery following posterior neodecortication in the hooded rat. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1973, 68, 62–67.
Meyer, D. R. Access to engrams. American Psychologist, 1972, 27, 124–133.
Meyer, D. R., & Meyer, P. M. Dynamics and bases of recoveries of functions after injuries to the cerebral cortex. Physiological Psychology, 1977, 5, 133–165.
Meyer, D. R., & Meyer, P. M. Inductions of recoveries from amnesias. In J. L. McGaugh & R. F. Thompson (Eds.), Learning and memory: Handbook of behavioral neurobiology. New York: Plenum Press, in press.
Meyer, D. R., Yutzey, D. A., & Meyer, P. M. Effects of neocortical ablations on relearning of a black-white discrimination habit by two strains of rats. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1966, 61, 83–86.
Meyer, P. M., & Meyer, D. R. Neurosurgical procedures with special reference to aspiration lesions. In R. B. Myers (Ed.), Methods in neurobiology. New York: Academic Press, 1971.
Meyer, P. M., Yutzey, D. A., Dalby, D. A., & Meyer, D. R. Effects of simultaneous septal-visual, septal-anterior and anterior-posterior lesions upon relearning a black-white discrimination. Brain Research, 1968, 8, 281–290.
Mize, R. R., Wetzel, A. B., & Thompson, V. E. Contour discrimination in the rat following removal of posterior neocortex. Physiology & Behavior, 1971, 6, 861–867.
Petrinovich, L., & Carew, T. J. Interaction of neocortical lesion size and interoperative experience in retention of a learned brightness discrimination. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1966, 61, 136–138.
Ritchie, G. D., Meyer, P. M., & Meyer, D. R. Residual spatial vision of cats with lesions of the visual cortex. Experimental Neurology, 1976, 53, 227–254.
Thompson, R. Retention of a brightness discrimination following neocortical damage in the rat. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1960, 53, 212–215.
Thompson, R., & Bryant, J. R. Memory as affected by activity of the relevant receptor. Psychological Reports, 1955, 1, 393–400.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was supported by Grant MH-06211 from the National Institute of Mental Health to Donald R. Meyer and Patricia M. Meyer. The authors extend their thanks to Mark Cloud and Robert Dewberry for their valuable technical assistance and to P. M. Meyer for her counsel with respect to the design of the investigation.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gray, T.S., Meyer, D.R. Effects of mixed training and overtraining on recoveries from amnesias in rats with visual cortical ablations. Psychobiology 9, 54–62 (1981). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03326958
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03326958