The magnet reaction, a symptom of prefrontal ablation

Abstract

After bilateral ablation of the medial precruciate cortex in dogs and cats, or dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in monkeys, the animals approach the source of the conditional stimulus (CS) indicating availability of food either before or instead of approaching the food itself. This behavior is designated the "magnet reaction". It is particularly evident when the source of the CS is located in a direction different from that taken to reach the food. Lesions elsewhere in the frontal lobes do not produce this effect.