Reflex “training” in frogs

Corning, W. C.; Lahue, Robert

doi:10.3758/bf03336036

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 3 publications

(2 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Enhancement of one reflex was accompanied by an equivalent enhancement of all other reflexes. These results coincide rather closely with those of Corning and Lahue (1971) although the degree of reflex enhancement was somewhat larger in the earlier experiment. Since the fact that the earlier experiment was performed in winter might have been responsible for the differences, another two experiments using Manitoban and Wisconsin frogs (eight animals per group) were run, in January and February.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 80%

“…The finding here, and previously (Corning & Lahue, 1971), that enhancement of one reflex in experimental animals resulted in increased responsivity for all wiping reflexes suggested that some nonspecific factor was involved in the enhancement. The fact that similar enhancement occurs in handling control animals, of course, indicates that the generalized responsivity increase is probably not causally related to the daily eliciting of one reflex but is rather an artifact of other procedures.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 60%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Reflex sensitization in the frog (Rana pipiens): Stimulation-independent influences

Whitney

Lahue

1975

Psychobiology

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Daily stimulation of sites on the dorsum of leopard frogs can result in an enhancement of a leg-wiping reflex. This enhancement, while long lasting, is not specific, i.e., the eliciting of one reflex sensitizes reflexes of other limbs. Animals which receive handling each day but which are not stimulated also demonstrate an increased frequency of reflex elicitation though animals which don't receive daily handling do not. This, coupled with seasonal variations in responsivity suggested that nonspecific factors are largely responsible for enhancement of the reflex. The-potential ot this preparation as a simple system model for the study of learning mechanisms is questioned, and the need for detailed behavioral characterizations of such preparations prior to the undertaking of neurophysiological studies is emphasized.Comparative investigations of learning mechanisms are making increasing use of "simple system" preparations in which naturally occurring or artificially induced restrictions in system complexity provide an enhanced possibility of elucidating fundamental mechanisms. Optimization of this strategy requires that systems be found which demonstrate modifiable behaviors as well as ease of electrophysiological and/or biochemical manipulation (Abraham, Palka, Peeke, & Willows, 1971). Additionally, care must be taken to fully characterize the plasticity at the behavioral level lest spurious neuronal correlations be hypothesized (Lahue & Corning, 1975). The present study helps to clarify an interesting phenomenon at the behavioral level and suggests that further studies of underlying mechanisms in the preparation need reconsideration.Tactile stimulation of the dorsal skin of intact or spinal frogs occasionally elicits one of several wiping reflexes. The reflex elicited is specifically related to the site of stimulation, i.e., either the toes of the ipsilateral front or back leg or the heel of the back leg performs the wiping, dependent upon whether the anterior, major, or caudal zones, respectively, are stimulated. Franzisket (I963) reported that repetitive stimulation of a specific point resulted in an increased probability of eliCiting the appropriate reflex. This enhancement was specific to the zone stimulated and persisted for over 20 days. Since the a c c essibility of the frog spinal cord to neurophysiological analysis has been well established, the possibility exists of exploring the mechanisms of this reflex sensitization. However, attempts at replication of the behavioral results with the readily available Rana pipiens (Franzisket used a European form, Rana esculenta have not been completely successful. Kimble and Ray (1964) found that slight variation in the site of Requests for reprints should be sent to R. Lahue, Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3Gl, Canada. stimulation was necessary in order to enhance the reflex above a 30% base rate. Repeated application of the stimulus to a very restricted locus resulted in a decrease in reflex elicitation. Corning and Lahu...

show abstract