After experiment completion, the rats were deeply anesthetized, and brains were removed and fixed in formalin. The brains were sectioned at 50 microns in the coronal plane using a freezing microtome. Sections were stained with the Nissl method, and slides were examined to confirm electrode placement. The locations of PFC electrodes were verified in the prelimbic cortex, HC electrodes in above and below the HC fissure, and nRE electrodes in the midline, in or in the close vicinity of nRE.
