ABSTRACT
This chapter explains how stereotaxic techniques are used to position probes and ways in which lesions made with such probes can be used to gain insight into the neural pathways and mechanisms involved in simple behaviors. Two instruments are needed for stereotaxic placements. First, a head-holder must be used which can both constrain the movement of the animal’s head and also position the head in a consistent orientation across animals. Second, the stereotaxic device is used to actually position the probe to be used. Stereotaxic coordinates are generally derived in reference to sutures on the animal’s skull, which are relatively consistent across animals, when the animal’s head is in a specific orientation. The chapter discusses how discrete lesions can be used to identify pathways involved in simple forms of learning. Electrolytic lesions involve passing sufficient direct current through chronically implanted electrodes to cause the death of neurons in the immediate vicinity of the electrodes.
