这一工作是由瑞士国家科学基金会（批准31003A-149315-1到MES和格兰特IZK0Z3-150809到亚利桑那州）， 以AZ海蒂Demetriades基金会 ，以MES的欧洲研究理事会（&#39;Nogorise&#39;）和赠款克里斯托弗和Dana里夫基金会（CDRF）。

所有实验均按照苏黎世州，瑞士的兽医办公室的指导进行。 1.动物处理和习惯化<ol><li>动物处理 注意：在实验开始前5天，每日执行步骤1.1.1。 <ol><li>对于行为实验，习惯于在动物实验者。每天有处理会话持久每头牲畜10-15分钟。清洁每只动物的会议结束后的框。 <ol><li>最初，将实验者的手伸进笼子允许动物的探索和闻到熟悉该项实验者。 </li><li>接着，轻轻抓住前端和后爪允许进一步熟悉的大鼠身上解除用实验者的手以安全的方式在动物。 </li></ol></li><li>权衡每个动物每天获取食物匮乏前基线体重。 </li></OL&gt; </li><li>设备和习惯化熟悉食品<ol><li>权衡每个动物每天获取食物匮乏前基线体重。 </li><li>启动食品剥夺大鼠前3天的在标准实验室的饮食训练前的开始。给大鼠0.05克每人每天1克体重的食物（ 如老鼠体重200克，开始用10克的食物）。确保体重由日常监测体重没有减少，每天超过10％。 <ol><li>如果几个动物在一个笼子里举行的，显性老鼠可能吃的比少占主导地位的。如果一个动物的减少体重，饲料分别代替组饲喂动物。给自由饮水 。 </li></ol></li><li>到熟悉与把持装置的大鼠，将动物放入训练框（ 图1）。有糖粒料放置在训练箱在接近狭缝开口熟习的食物丸的动物。执行此STEP 10-15分钟每日3天。 </li></ol></li></ol> 2.前培训和运动技能学习<ol><li>训练前<ol><li>熟悉后一天，将动物放入训练箱并紧密放置沉淀的狭缝开口，因此它可以通过动物的舌头到达。在训练前排除检索粒料与动物的前肢 注：在这个阶段，颗粒检索用舌头是至关重要的，通常是动物的选择方法。小球应该是在没有把握的情况下，前肢直到运动技能学习的第一天，以允许足够的监测了解​​到深远的任务。颗粒与检索在预培训的前肢是排除标准，并在未观察到大多数情况下。 </li><li>教老鼠要么跑到笼子的后部，并返回到缝隙打开或退后一步，把绕自身轴线，以接收下一个食物颗粒与舌。允许时间为动物探索笼，运行到后，并返回到狭缝开口。如果动物不能正确执行任务，使用镊子轻轻拍打在笼结束后，赶上了动物的关注。一旦动物是在后方，轻轻拍打在笼子前面到动物引导到狭缝开口。 注意：一旦动物达到规定的标准值（ 例如，50成功检索颗粒在不到15分钟的舌头），动物资格的运动技能学习阶段。在第1天和2的预培训，学员已经可以从非学生区别开来。非学习者可以从研究中排除在此步骤。这减小期间马达的学习步骤（2.2），其具有高数量的非学习的概率。 </li><li>在训练前，剥夺食物在标准实验室老鼠的饮食。给自由饮水 。每天监测体重整个研究。办不使用同一个房间里训练雄性和雌性大鼠。确保动物平静和无噪音的环境。 </li></ol></li><li>爪子偏好和运动技能学习的测定<ol><li>在运动技能学习的第一次会议，替换在后窗前的幻灯片。将糖颗粒约1.5厘米的距离帖子上的窗口，使动物无法与舌头的颗粒，但只能通过精确的前肢达到和把握运动检索。 <ol><li>要强制颗粒检索的前肢，使用镊子轻轻将小球接近动物的嘴和收回沉淀而动物尝试用舌头消费。执行这项任务重复，直到动物伸出前肢和掌握颗粒。 </li></ol></li><li>将后中央到对外开放的窗口。为了确定爪子偏好，仔细观察训练日第10次试验的REAC 1.超过70％兴的尝试（ 即，7满分10分）必须具有相同的前肢被执行。如果这不能实现，继续与另一轮的10个试验，直到70％的阈值被达到。 </li><li>经过爪子偏好的决心，转向首选的前肢和后中央对齐到窗口开放的边界。优选的爪对准装置后移位违背各自爪子以允许最佳角度为达成（ 图1B中的C）。 </li><li>分类试验，定义为一个新的颗粒呈现给动物，为成功（到达，把握，检索和吃小球），降（到达，把握和检索过程中失去颗粒）或失败（敲断沉淀后）。记下你的每片试实验后分析数据。 </li><li>执行一个日常会话，包括定义试验次数（ 例如，150）或最大时间（ 例如，1小时）对每只动物。 </li><li>调查精度和微调运动用的第一次尝试的分析。第一次尝试通过不中断，犹豫或个人的运动部件的重复在一个单一的整体运动抓沉淀的定义。仔细观察每一个被抓的老鼠。 <ol><li>如果老鼠犹豫或在达到缩回或企图多次试验，以正确把握颗粒，注意相应的试验是成功，但没有第一次尝试。如果动物成功地掌握在单片前往颗粒，记下各自的审判在你的表中单独列成功的第一次尝试。 </li></ol></li><li>在运动技能的学习，剥夺食物在标准实验室老鼠的饮食。给自由饮水 。每天监测体重整个研究。 </li></ol></li></ol>

<ol>
	<li>Fu, M., Yu, X., Lu, J., Zuo, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Repetitive+motor+learning+induces+coordinated+formation+of+clustered+dendritic+spines+in+vivo.">Repetitive motor learning induces coordinated formation of clustered dendritic spines in vivo.</a> Nature. 483, 92-95 (2012).</li><li>Fu, M., Zuo, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Experience-dependent+structural+plasticity+in+the+cortex.">Experience-dependent structural plasticity in the cortex.</a> Trends in neurosciences. 34, 177-187 (2011).</li><li>Holtmaat, A., Svoboda, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Experience-dependent+structural+synaptic+plasticity+in+the+mammalian+brain.">Experience-dependent structural synaptic plasticity in the mammalian brain.</a> Nature reviews. Neuroscience. 10, 647-658 (2009).</li><li>Xu, T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Rapid+formation+and+selective+stabilization+of+synapses+for+enduring+motor+memories.">Rapid formation and selective stabilization of synapses for enduring motor memories.</a> Nature. 462, 915-919 (2009).</li><li>Yu, X., Zuo, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Spine+plasticity+in+the+motor+cortex.">Spine plasticity in the motor cortex.</a> Current opinion in neurobiology. 21, 169-174 (2011).</li><li>Rioult-Pedotti, M. S., Friedman, D., Donoghue, J. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Learning-induced LTP in neocortex. Science. 290, 533-536 (2000).</li><li>Rioult-Pedotti, M. S., Friedman, D., Hess, G., Donoghue, J. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Strengthening+of+horizontal+cortical+connections+following+skill+learning.">Strengthening of horizontal cortical connections following skill learning.</a> Nature neuroscience. 1, 230-234 (1998).</li><li>Rioult-Pedotti, M. S., Donoghue, J. P., Dunaevsky, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Plasticity+of+the+synaptic+modification+range.">Plasticity of the synaptic modification range.</a> Journal of neurophysiology. 98, 3688-3695 (2007).</li><li>Fritsch, B., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Direct+current+stimulation+promotes+BDNF-dependent+synaptic+plasticity:+potential+implications+for+motor+learning.">Direct current stimulation promotes BDNF-dependent synaptic plasticity: potential implications for motor learning.</a> Neuron. 66, 198-204 (2010).</li><li>Ghiani, C. A., Ying, Z., de Vellis, J., Gomez-Pinilla, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Exercise+decreases+myelin-associated+glycoprotein+expression+in+the+spinal+cord+and+positively+modulates+neuronal+growth.">Exercise decreases myelin-associated glycoprotein expression in the spinal cord and positively modulates neuronal growth.</a> Glia. 55, 966-975 (2007).</li><li>Josephson, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Activity-induced+and+developmental+downregulation+of+the+Nogo+receptor.">Activity-induced and developmental downregulation of the Nogo receptor.</a> Cell and tissue research. 311, 333-342 (2003).</li><li>Karlen, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Nogo+receptor+1+regulates+formation+of+lasting+memories.">Nogo receptor 1 regulates formation of lasting memories.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 106, 20476-20481 (2009).</li><li>Kleim, J. A., Lussnig, E., Schwarz, E. R., Comery, T. A., Greenough, W. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Synaptogenesis+and+Fos+expression+in+the+motor+cortex+of+the+adult+rat+after+motor+skill+learning.">Synaptogenesis and Fos expression in the motor cortex of the adult rat after motor skill learning.</a> The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience. 16, 4529-4535 (1996).</li><li>Mironova, Y. A., Giger, R. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Where+no+synapses+go:+gatekeepers+of+circuit+remodeling+and+synaptic+strength.">Where no synapses go: gatekeepers of circuit remodeling and synaptic strength.</a> Trends in neurosciences. 14, 7-23 (2013).</li><li>Park, H., Poo, M. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neurotrophin+regulation+of+neural+circuit+development+and+function.">Neurotrophin regulation of neural circuit development and function.</a> Nature reviews. Neuroscience. 14, 7-23 (2013).</li><li>Zemmar, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neutralization+of+Nogo-A+enhances+synaptic+plasticity+in+the+rodent+motor+cortex+and+improves+motor+learning+in+vivo.">Neutralization of Nogo-A enhances synaptic plasticity in the rodent motor cortex and improves motor learning in vivo.</a> The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience. 34, 8685-8698 (2014).</li><li>Whishaw, I. Q., Pellis, S. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+structure+of+skilled+forelimb+reaching+in+the+rat:+a+proximally+driven+movement+with+a+single+distal+rotatory+component.">The structure of skilled forelimb reaching in the rat: a proximally driven movement with a single distal rotatory component.</a> Behavioural brain research. 41, 49-59 (1990).</li><li>Buitrago, M. M., Ringer, T., Schulz, J. B., Dichgans, J., Luft, A. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Characterization+of+motor+skill+and+instrumental+learning+time+scales+in+a+skilled+reaching+task+in+rat.">Characterization of motor skill and instrumental learning time scales in a skilled reaching task in rat.</a> Behavioural brain research. 155, 249-256 (2004).</li><li>Geurts, A. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Knockout+rats+via+embryo+microinjection+of+zinc-finger+nucleases.">Knockout rats via embryo microinjection of zinc-finger nucleases.</a> Science. 325, 433 (2009).</li><li>Tews, B., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Synthetic+microRNA-mediated+downregulation+of+Nogo-A+in+transgenic+rats+reveals+its+role+as+regulator+of+synaptic+plasticity+and+cognitive+function.">Synthetic microRNA-mediated downregulation of Nogo-A in transgenic rats reveals its role as regulator of synaptic plasticity and cognitive function.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. , (2013).</li><li>Li, D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Heritable+gene+targeting+in+the+mouse+and+rat+using+a+CRISPR-Cas+system.">Heritable gene targeting in the mouse and rat using a CRISPR-Cas system.</a> Nature. 31, 681-683 (2013).</li></ol>

The authors have nothing to disclose

在这项研究中所示的范例适于从布伊特拉戈等人 18和不同于经典单粒料达到主要在两个方面的范例17： 首先，研究内会话的改进允许在一个单一的一天的学习任务，它可以提供一个不同的级别的信息，如快速学习组件的调查相比，由平均每天值表示的慢学习组件的分析（ 见图3和4）。二，行为范式这里提出增加难度和复杂的运?...

运动控制是中枢神经系统（CNS）的核心功能。 Motricity公司是CNS功能的主要衡量输出和主​​可能性为个人与外部世界进行交互。理解运动功能的原理和背后的电动机任务的学习是目前在神经科学的大挑战之一的机制。购置一台新电机的任务后，形态，生理和分子的变化被发现。例如，形状和突触的数目改变以响应熟练马达训练1-5，和突触机械的功能改变动作的学习后观察。突触反应是在经训练的运动皮层相比，同样的动物或从未经训练的动物6,7-响应的未经训练的半球前肢-表示区域的连接更高。电观察也表明，长时程增强（LTP）和长-term抑制（LTD）一样的机制发生了新的运 ​​动技能的学习过程中，那突触操作，这是LTP和LTD。饱和的限制边界之间限定的范围内，被修改8。此外，已经表明，活性标记和可塑性促进分子如c-fos的GAP-43，或BDNF而且可塑性抑制分子例如为学习相关的神经可塑性9-16的Nogo-A显示调节作用。 对更好地理解运动学习的基本机制的这些进展只能与使用行为范式，使收购一个新的运 ​​动技能， 比如，熟练前肢深远的精确控制来实现。只有一个结构良好的行为的任务允许监视并捕捉后的学习和执行各自的任务发生的相关变化。在这里，我们在视觉上表明本领域技术前肢的修改后的版本大鼠改编自布伊特拉戈等 17所呈现的范例单颗粒到达任务允许移动收购的日常训练（在会议期间）内的分析代表了快速学习成分和主要收购以及熟练的运动学习过几次会议代表所学的任务18的慢学习成分和维护（之间的会话）。重要的是，这种行为模式增加了难度和复杂的运动技能的任务，因为两个特征的程度：首先，老鼠被训练把握每一个后转身的轴，从而调整其身前的下一个颗粒范围和更新体内取向，从而防止从相同的角度恒定运动执行。第二，小球被检索从一个垂直柱放置在笼子前面。由于小直径的帖子，小球很容易被踢掉需要精确把握成功的检索和preventing简单拉向动物的颗粒。 如此复杂的行为测试可以更深入地了解运动学习的基本机制。相比小鼠，大鼠是在复杂的行为任务的性能优越，因此更适合于复杂的范例如本研究中提出。考虑可用于大鼠19,20的增加的遗传可能性，精确和良好控制的行为测试方法与遗传操作，成像和生理技术的结合代表了强大的工具箱，以便更好地了解电动机的学习和记忆的神经生物学基础。

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>1</td>
			<td>Training Box</td>
			<td>Self Made</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2</td>
			<td>Pedestal</td>
			<td>Self Made</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>3</td>
			<td>Sugar Pellets</td>
			<td colspan="2">45-mg dustless precision pellets, TSE Systems Intl. Group</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>4</td>
			<td>Animals</td>
			<td>5-6 week old Sprague Dawley Male Rats</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>5</td>
			<td>Laptop</td>
			<td>Hewlett Packard</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>6</td>
			<td>Stop Watch</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>7</td>
			<td>Forceps</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools (FST)</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>8</td>
			<td>Software</td>
			<td>Excel (Microsoft), GraphPad Prism (GraphPad)</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>9</td>
			<td>Weighing scale</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>10</td>
			<td>Counter</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

acquisition of a high-precision skilled forelimb reaching task in rats

Movements are the main measurable output of central nervous system function. Developing behavioral paradigms that allow detailed analysis of motor learning and execution is of critical importance in order to understand the principles and processes that underlie motor function. Here we present a paradigm to study movement acquisition within a daily session of training (within-session) representing the fast learning component and primary acquisition as well as skilled motor learning over several training sessions (between-session) representing the slow learning component and consolidation of the learned task. This behavioral paradigm increases the degree of difficulty and complexity of the motor skill task due to two features: First, the animal realigns its body prior to each pellet retrieval forcing renewed orientation and preventing movement execution from the same angle. Second, pellets are grasped from a vertical post that matches the diameter of the pellet and is placed in front of the cage. This requires a precise grasp for successful pellet retrieval and thus prevents simple pulling of the pellet towards the animal. In combination with novel genetics, imaging and electrophysiological technologies, this behavioral method will aid to understand the morphological, anatomical and molecular underpinnings of motor learning and memory.

成功的运动技能采集只能通过一贯的做法来实现。尽管仔细考虑的所有方面，一些老鼠不学习任务（ 图2）。这些“非学习者的任一缺乏动力导致粒料检索少数或缺席尝试从实验开始或通常失去兴趣达成为领先粒料连续失败的尝试。与此相反，一些动物显示出导致overhasty侵略性和过度激励的行为，并冲抓，导致失败的尝试。不成功的学习者的第三组是那些以高成功率，不要使显著的改...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Acquisition of a High-precision Skilled Forelimb Reaching Task in Rats at JoVE.com

Acquisition of a High-precision Skilled Forelimb Reaching Task in Rats

A paradigm is presented to analyze the acquisition of a high-precision skilled forelimb reaching task in rats.

收购高精度熟练的前肢到达任务大鼠

Movements are the main measurable output of central nervous system function. Developing behavioral paradigms that allow detailed analysis of motor ...

acquisition-of-a-high-precision-skilled-forelimb-reaching-task-in-rats

Research

JoVE Journal

Behavior

10.2K 次观看.  University of Zurich. A paradigm is presented to analyze the acquisition of a high-precision skilled forelimb reaching task in rats.

视频: Acquisition of a High-precision Skilled Forelimb Reaching Task in Rats

The Crossmodal Congruency Task as a Means to Obtain an Objective Behavioral Measure in the Rubber Hand Illusion Paradigm

The rubber hand illusion (RHI) is a popular experimental paradigm. Participants view touch on an artificial rubber hand while the participants' own hidden hand is touched. If the viewed and felt touches are given at the same time then this is sufficient to induce the compelling experience that the rubber hand is one's own hand. The RHI can be used to investigate exactly how the brain constructs distinct body representations for one's own body. Such representations are crucial for successful interactions with the external world. To obtain a subjective measure of the RHI, researchers typically ask participants to rate statements such as "I felt as if the rubber hand were my hand". Here we demonstrate how the crossmodal congruency task can be used to obtain an objective behavioral measure within this paradigm.
The variant of the crossmodal congruency task we employ involves the presentation of tactile targets and visual distractors. Targets and distractors are spatially congruent (i.e. same finger) on some trials and incongruent (i.e. different finger) on others. The difference in performance between incongruent and congruent trials - the crossmodal congruency effect (CCE) - indexes multisensory interactions. Importantly, the CCE is modulated both by viewing a hand as well as the synchrony of viewed and felt touch which are both crucial factors for the RHI.
The use of the crossmodal congruency task within the RHI paradigm has several advantages. It is a simple behavioral measure which can be repeated many times and which can be obtained during the illusion while participants view the artificial hand. Furthermore, this measure is not susceptible to observer and experimenter biases. The combination of the RHI paradigm with the crossmodal congruency task allows in particular for the investigation of multisensory processes which are critical for modulations of body representations as in the RHI.

We demonstrate how an objective measure can be employed in the widely employed rubber hand illusion paradigm. This measure is obtained by modifying the well-established crossmodal congruency task. This task allows the investigation of multisensory processes which are critical for modulations of body representations as in the rubber hand illusion.

一致性的任务作为一种手段来获取目标行为的措施中的橡胶手错觉范式Crossmodal

The rubber hand illusion (RHI) is a popular experimental paradigm. Participants view touch on an artificial rubber hand while the participants' own hidden ...

科研

行为学

A Procedure to Study the Effect of Prolonged Food Restriction on Heroin Seeking in Abstinent Rats

In human drug addicts, exposure to drug-associated cues or environments that were previously associated with drug taking can trigger relapse during abstinence. Moreover, various environmental challenges can exacerbate this effect, as well as increase ongoing drug intake.
The procedure we describe here highlights the impact of a common environmental challenge, food restriction, on drug craving that is expressed as an augmentation of drug seeking in abstinent rats.
Rats are implanted with chronic intravenous i.v. catheters, and then trained to press a lever for i.v. heroin over a period of 10-12 days. Following the heroin self-administration phase the rats are removed from the operant conditioning chambers and housed in the animal care facility for a period of at least 14 days. While one group is maintained under unrestricted access to food (sated group), a second group (FDR group) is exposed to a mild food restriction regimen that results in their body weights maintained at 90% of their nonrestricted body weight. On day 14 of food restriction the rats are transferred back to the drug-training environment, and a drug-seeking test is run under extinction conditions (i.e.&#160;lever presses do not result in heroin delivery).
The procedure presented here results in a highly robust augmentation of heroin seeking on test day in the food restricted rats. In addition, compared to the acute food deprivation manipulations we have used before, the current procedure is a more clinically relevant model for the impact of caloric restriction on drug seeking. Moreover, it might be closer to the human condition as the rats are not required to go through an extinction-training phase before the drug-seeking test, which is an integral component of the popular reinstatement procedure.

A procedure that allows a demonstration of robust augmentation of drug seeking in food-restricted rats is described. Following heroin self-administration training, rats go through an abstinence period, in a drug-free environment, during which they are mildly food restricted. Drug seeking is then tested in the drug-associated environment.

一个过程来研究延长食品的限制对海洛因寻求戒断大鼠的影响

In human drug addicts, exposure to drug-associated cues or environments that were previously associated with drug taking can trigger relapse during ...

Measurement of Fronto-limbic Activity Using an Emotional Oddball Task in Children with Familial High Risk for Schizophrenia

Adolescence is a critical developmental period where the early symptoms of schizophrenia frequently emerge. First-degree relatives of people with schizophrenia who are at familial high risk (FHR) may show similar cognitive and emotional changes. However, the neurological changes underlying the emergence of these symptoms remain unclear. This study sought to identify differences in frontal, striatal, and limbic regions in children and adolescents with FHR using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Groups of 21 children and adolescents at FHR and 21 healthy controls completed an emotional oddball task that relied on selective attention and the suppression of task-irrelevant emotional information. The standard oddball task was modified to include aversive and neutral distractors in order to examine potential group differences in both emotional and executive processing. This task was designed specifically to allow for children and adolescents to complete by keeping the difficulty and emotional image content age-appropriate. Furthermore, we demonstrate a technique for suitable fMRI registration for children and adolescent participants. This paradigm may also be applied in future studies to measure changes in neural activity in other populations with hypothesized developmental changes in executive and emotional processing.

This paper describes how to use the emotional oddball task and fMRI to measure brain activation in children and adolescents at familial high risk for schizophrenia (FHR).&#160;FMRI was used to measure differences in fronto-striato-limbic regions during an emotional oddball task. Children with FHR exhibited abnormal functional activation during adolescence.

的额边缘活度测量在儿童使用情绪穿着或行为古怪的任务与家族性高风险的精神分裂症

Adolescence is a critical developmental period where the early symptoms of schizophrenia frequently emerge. First-degree relatives of people with ...

The 5-Choice Serial Reaction Time Task: A Task of Attention and Impulse Control for Rodents

This protocol describes the 5-choice serial reaction time task, which is an operant based task used to study attention and impulse control in rodents. Test day challenges, modifications to the standard task, can be used to systematically tax the neural systems controlling either attention or impulse control. Importantly, these challenges have consistent effects on behavior across laboratories in intact animals and can reveal either enhancements or deficits in cognitive function that are not apparent when rats are only tested on the standard task. The variety of behavioral measures that are collected can be used to determine if other factors (i.e., sedation, motivation deficits, locomotor impairments) are contributing to changes in performance. The versatility of the 5CSRTT is further enhanced because it is amenable to combination with pharmacological, molecular, and genetic techniques.

This protocol describes the 5-choice serial reaction time task, which is an operant based task used to study attention and impulse control in rodents. Test day challenges, which are modifications of the standard task, increase flexibility of the task and can be combined with other manipulations to more fully characterize behavior.

5选择序列反应时任务：注意的任务和脉冲控制鼠害

This protocol describes the 5-choice serial reaction time task, which is an operant based task used to study attention and impulse control in rodents. ...

A Procedure to Observe Context-induced Renewal of Pavlovian-conditioned Alcohol-seeking Behavior in Rats

Environmental contexts in which drugs of abuse are consumed can trigger craving, a subjective Pavlovian-conditioned response that can facilitate drug-seeking behavior and prompt relapse in abstinent drug users. We have developed a procedure to study the behavioral and neural processes that mediate the impact of context on alcohol-seeking behavior in rats. Following acclimation to the taste and pharmacological effects of 15% ethanol in the home cage, male Long-Evans rats receive Pavlovian discrimination training (PDT) in conditioning chambers. In each daily (Mon-Fri) PDT session, 16 trials each of two different 10 sec auditory conditioned stimuli occur. During one stimulus, the CS+, 0.2 ml of 15% ethanol is delivered into a fluid port for oral consumption. The second stimulus, the CS-, is not paired with ethanol. Across sessions, entries into the fluid port during the CS+ increase, whereas entries during the CS- stabilize at a lower level, indicating that a predictive association between the CS+ and ethanol is acquired. During PDT each chamber is equipped with a specific configuration of visual, olfactory and tactile contextual stimuli. Following PDT, extinction training is conducted in the same chamber that is now equipped with a different configuration of contextual stimuli. The CS+ and CS- are presented as before, but ethanol is withheld, which causes a gradual decline in port entries during the CS+. At test, rats are placed back into the PDT context and presented with the CS+ and CS- as before, but without ethanol. This manipulation triggers a robust and selective increase in the number of port entries made during the alcohol predictive CS+, with no change in responding during the CS-. This effect, referred to as context-induced renewal, illustrates the powerful capacity of contexts associated with alcohol consumption to stimulate alcohol-seeking behavior in response to Pavlovian alcohol cues.

A procedure to study the capacity of an alcohol associated environmental context to trigger the renewal of alcohol-seeking behavior in rats is described.

一个过程来观察大鼠巴甫洛夫空调酒精寻求行为的背景下引发的重建

Environmental contexts in which drugs of abuse are consumed can trigger craving, a subjective Pavlovian-conditioned response that can facilitate ...

The Modified Hole Board - Measuring Behavior, Cognition and Social Interaction in Mice and Rats

This protocol describes the modified hole board (mHB), which combines features from a traditional hole board and open field and is designed to measure multiple dimensions of unconditioned behavior in small laboratory mammals (e.g., mice, rats, tree shrews and small primates). This paradigm is a valuable alternative for the use of a behavioral test battery, since a broad behavioral spectrum of an animal&#8217;s behavioral profile can be investigated in one single test.
The apparatus consists of a box, representing the &#8216;protected&#8217; area, separated from a group compartment. A board, on which small cylinders are staggered in three lines, is placed in the center of the box, representing the &#8216;unprotected&#8217; area of the set-up. The cognitive abilities of the animals can be measured by baiting some cylinders on the board and measuring the working and reference memory. Other unconditioned behavior, such as activity-related-, anxiety-related- and social behavior, can be observed using this paradigm. Behavioral flexibility and the ability to habituate to a novel environment can additionally be observed by subjecting the animals to multiple trials in the mHB, revealing insight into the animals&#8217; adaptive capacities.
Due to testing order effects in a behavioral test battery, na&#239;ve animals should be used for each individual experiment. By testing multiple behavioral dimensions in a single paradigm and thereby circumventing this issue, the number of experimental animals used is reduced. Furthermore, by avoiding social isolation during testing and without the need to food deprive the animals, the mHB represents a behavioral test system, inducing if any, very low amount of stress.

This protocol describes the modified hole board, which is a behavioral test set-up that comprises the characteristics of an open field and a traditional hole board. This set-up enables the differential analysis of unconditioned behavior of small laboratory mammals as well as the analysis of cognitive abilities.

修改后的孔板 - 测量行为，认知和社会互动小鼠和大鼠

This protocol describes the modified hole board (mHB), which combines features from a traditional hole board and open field and is designed to measure ...

Bouncing Ball with a Uniformly Varying Velocity in a Metronome Synchronization Task

Sensorimotor synchronization (SMS), a fundamental human ability to coordinate movements with external rhythms, has long been thought to be modality specific. In the canonical metronome synchronization task that requires tapping a finger along with an isochronous sequence, a well-established finding is that synchronization is much more stable to an auditory sequence consisting of auditory tones than to a visual sequence consisting of visual flashes. However, recent studies have shown that periodically moving visual stimuli can substantially improve synchronization compared with visual flashes. In particular, synchronization of a visual bouncing ball that has a uniformly varying velocity was found to be not less stable than synchronization of auditory tones. Here, the current protocol describes the application of the bouncing ball with a uniformly varying velocity in a metronome synchronization task. The usage of the bouncing ball in sequences with different inter-onset intervals (IOI) is included. The representative results illustrate synchronization performance of the bouncing ball, as compared with the performances of auditory tones and visual flashes. Given its comparable synchronization performance to that of auditory tones, the bouncing ball is of particular importance for addressing the current research topic of whether modality-specific mechanisms underlay SMS.

The purpose of this protocol is to introduce the application of a bouncing ball with a uniformly varying velocity in a metronome synchronization task.

节拍器同步任务中具有均匀变速的弹跳球

Sensorimotor synchronization (SMS), a fundamental human ability to coordinate movements with external rhythms, has long been thought to be modality ...

The Knob Supination Task: A Semi-automated Method for Assessing Forelimb Function in Rats

Tasks that accurately measure dexterity in animal models are critical to understand hand function. Current rat behavioral tasks that measure dexterity largely use video analysis of reaching or food manipulation. While these tasks are easy to implement and are robust across disease models, they are subjective and laborious for the experimenter. Automating traditional tasks or creating new automated tasks can make the tasks more efficient, objective, and quantitative. Since rats are less dexterous than primates, central nervous system (CNS) injury produces more subtle deficits in dexterity, however, supination is highly affected in rodents and crucial to hand function in primates. Therefore, we designed a semi-automated task that measures forelimb supination in rats. Rats are trained to reach and grasp a knob-shaped manipulandum and turn the manipulandum in supination to receive a reward. Rats can acquire the skill within 20 &plusmn; 5 days. While the early part of training is highly supervised, much of the training is done without direct supervision. The task reliably and reproducibly captures subtle deficits after injury and shows functional recovery that accurately reflects clinical recovery curves. Analysis of data is performed by specialized software through a graphical user interface that is designed to be intuitive. We also give solutions to common problems encountered during training, and show that minor corrections to behavior early in training produce reliable acquisition of supination. Thus, the knob supination task provides efficient and quantitative evaluation of a critical movement for dexterity in rats.

This manuscript describes a semi-automated task that quantifies supination in rats. Rats reach, grasp, and supinate a spherical manipulandum. The rat is rewarded with a pellet if the turn angle exceeds a criterion set by the user. This task increases throughput, sensitivity to injury, and objectivity compared to traditional tasks.

旋钮旋任务: 一种半自动评估大鼠前肢功能的方法

Tasks that accurately measure dexterity in animal models are critical to understand hand function. Current rat behavioral tasks that measure dexterity ...

Evaluating Skilled Prehension in Mice Using an Auto-Trainer

We describe a method to introduce na&#239;ve mice to a novel prehension (reach-to-grasp) task. Mice are housed singly in cages with a frontal slot that permits the mouse to reach out of its cage and retrieve food pellets. Minimal food restriction is employed to encourage the mice to perform the food retrieval from the slot. As the mice begin to associate coming to the slot for food, the pellets are manually pulled away to stimulate extension and pronation of their paw to grasp and retrieve the pellet through the frontal slot. When the mice begin to reach for the pellets as they arrive at the slot, the behavioral assay can be performed by measuring the rate at which they successfully grasp and retrieve the desired pellet. They are then introduced to an auto-trainer that automates both the process of providing food pellets for the mouse to grasp, and the recording of successful and failed reaching and grasping attempts. This allows for the collection of reaching data for multiple mice with minimal effort, to be used in experimental analysis as appropriate.

Method to assess the impact of training on motor skills is a useful tool. Unfortunately, most behavioral assessments can be labor intensive and/or expensive.We describe here a robotic method of assessing prehension (reach-to-grasp) skill in mice.

使用自动训练器评估小鼠的熟练前向

We describe a method to introduce na&#239;ve mice to a novel prehension (reach-to-grasp) task. Mice are housed singly in cages with a frontal slot that ...

A Task for Assessing the Impact of a Partner on the Speed and Accuracy of Motor Performance in Rats

To our knowledge, no study has examined the effect of mere presence on accuracy of performance in animals. Therefore, we developed an experimental task to measure rats&#8217; motor performance (speed and accuracy) in a social condition. Rats were trained to run on a runway and pull down a lever at the end of the runway. In testing, rats performed the task solitarily (single) or in the presence of a confederate rat beyond the lever (pair or a social condition). As indices of the performance speed, we measured the time needed to start running, run through the runway, and pull down the lever. As the index of performance accuracy, we counted the number of trials in which rats could pull down the lever during their first attempt. One-way and two-way repeated-measure analyses of variance were used to analyze the data. This run-and-pull task enabled us to examine the effect of the presence of another conspecific on both speed and accuracy of motor performance in one experiment. The results showed that rats performed the task faster but less accurately in pair sessions than in single sessions. This protocol would be a valid animal model to examine the effect of mere presence on speed and accuracy of motor performance in rats.

A procedure to measure the speed and accuracy of rats&rsquo; motor performance in a social condition is described. The protocol enables us to investigate the effect of the mere presence of others on speed and accuracy of motor performance in one experiment.

评估合作伙伴对大鼠电机性能速度和准确性的影响的任务

To our knowledge, no study has examined the effect of mere presence on accuracy of performance in animals. Therefore, we developed an experimental task to ...