Integrated information theory reveals the potential role of the posterior parietal cortex in sustaining conditioning responses in classical conditioning tasks.

ABSTRACT: Classical conditioning is a fundamental associative learning process in which repeated pairings of a conditioned stimulus (CS) with an unconditioned stimulus (US) lead to the CS eliciting a conditioned response (CR). Previous research has identified key neural regions involved in processing reward-predicting cues and mediating licking behavior. However, the mechanisms that sustain high conditioned response rates across repeated sessions remain elusive, particularly regarding how the reward expectation is represented on a session-by-session basis. While early learning phases in classical conditioning have been extensively studied, the neural mechanisms that support consistent performance over time remain unclear. In this study, we sought to understand how cortical regions, particularly the

SUBMITTER: Phi TC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11814451 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature