Suppression and disinhibition of instrumental alimentary reactions after successive lesions of the dorsomedial and lateral amygdala in dogs.

Damage of the dorsomedial amygdala produced impairment of instrumental performance to CS(+) with no changes to CS(-). Subsequent lesion of the lateral amygdala resulted in restoration of instrumental performance to CS(+) and transient disinhibition to CS(-). These results support the hypothesis that the dorsomedial amygdala is involved in facilitation, while the lateral amygdala in inhibition of alimmentary reactions.