GSR and corticosteroid response in monkeys with frontal ablations

Abstract The GSR deficit produced by lesions of the dorsolateral frontal cortex was examined under several conditions. Except in presence of movement no GSR was recorded from “frontal” animals in response to a novel stimulus, to one presented in a shock associated environment, or to a stimulus repeatedly paired with shock. This absence of response contrasted with apparently normal EGG desynchronization to the novel stimulus and a resistance change of normal amplitude in response to electric shock. The corticosteroid response to shock and to shock associated environment was measured. Under all conditions the total change in steroid level was the same for both groups. However, the lesioned animals did show markedly elevated steroid levels two weeks after the initial shock session, and demonstrated a different pattern of response within the individual sessions.