Frontal cortex lesions eliminate the clock speed effect of dopaminergic drugs on interval timing

Behavioral and pharmacological challenges using methamphetamine (MAP-0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg, i.p.), haloperidol (HAL-0.12 mg/kg, i.p.), and sulfated cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg, i.p.) were used to evaluate the effects of excitotoxic lesions of cholinergic cell bodies in the medial septal area and the nucleus basalis magnocellularis, radiofrequency lesions of the fimbria-fornix, and aspiration lesions of the frontal cortex on interval timing in rats trained on a 40-s peak-interval procedure. Results demonstrated that lesions of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis and frontal cortex selectively reduced the modulatory control of clock speed which is likely mediated by dopamine D2 receptors located on cortico-striatal neurons.