The International journal of neuroscience
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Unilateral temporal lobectomy to treat seizure disorders in humans often results in cognitive impairment after the surgery. To determine the potential utility of a rodent model of unilaterally induced cognitive deficits, the present experiment evaluated spatial cognition in adult rats after either left or right hemisphere lesioning of temporal neocortex and underlying hippocampal regions. ⋯ Working memory errors did not differ statistically between groups. The production of a spatial learning deficit by unilateral damage suggests that this rodent model could serve to test potential improvements in interventional strategies aimed at attenuating cognitive effects of the surgical treatment.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of heteronymous monosynaptic Ia facilitation in young and elderly subjects in supine and standing positions.
The control of posture and balance is a primary concern among the elderly. Postural instability has been identified as a contributor to the greater incidence of falling among this segment of the population. One important neuromuscular mechanism identified as important in the control of posture and balance is the segmental reflex system. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of presynaptic inhibition in modulating the reflex system in young and elderly subjects. ⋯ These results demonstrate differential effects of both H-reflex modulation and heteronymous conditioning for elderly subjects when compared with young adults. These differences may be an adaptive phenomenon of the aging neuromuscular system, exemplified by a decreased ability to modulate the reflex system in the elderly group.