Effects of focal vs generalized kindled convulsions from anterior neocortex or amygdala on CER acquisition in rats.

Kindling of the anterior neocortex (AC) was shown to produce a brief focal motor seizure, characterized by a clonic-tonic-clonic response of the forelimbs with the animal in a prone posture. These same brief seizures, as previously reported, did not produce retrograde amnesia in a CER paradigm. With repeated evocations, over several days, the AC convulsions exhibited a dramatic increase of the second clonic phase (generalized) and came to appear similar to amygdala kindled convulsions. These generalized AC convulsions, like briefly kindled amygdala convulsions, produced good retrograde amnesia for a CER. With extensive amygdala kindling prior to CER training, a severe CER acquisition deficit was observed. These latter as well as other data suggest that protracted amygdala kindling produces a subsequent reduced ability to acquire fear motivated responses.