Selective ablations within the prefrontal cortex of the rat and performance of delayed alternation

Ablations of the pregenual area of the anteromedial prefrontal cortex produced a significantly larger impairment in delayed alternation than did removal of the supragenual area. Both ablations caused significant impairments as compared with lesions of the posteromedial cortex. Only one of four rats with ablations of the dorsal bank and lip of the anterior part of the rhinal sulcus was impaired. The results indicate than in the rat, as in the monkey and dog, one part of the prefrontal cortex is particularly involved in mediation of delayed alternation.