Diese Arbeit wurde durch Zuschüsse des Schweizerischen Nationalfonds (Projekt 31003A-149315-1 auf MES und Grant IZK0Z3-150809 zu AZ), auf die AZ Heidi Demetriades Foundation, um den Europäischen Forschungsrat (&#39;Nogorise&#39;) MES- und finanziert die Christopher und Dana Reeve Foundation (CDRF).

Alle Experimente wurden in Übereinstimmung mit den Richtlinien der Veterinäramt des Kantons Zürich, Schweiz durchgeführt. 1. Tier Handhabung und Habituation <ol><li> Tiertransporter Hinweis: 5 Tage vor dem Beginn des Experiments, führen Sie Schritt 1.1.1 täglich. <ol><li> Für Verhaltensexperimente, gewöhnen die Tiere an den Experimentator. Haben täglichen Umgang Stunden à 10-15 Minuten pro Tier. Reinigen Sie die Box nach Sitzung jedes Tieres. <ol><li> Zunächst legen Sie die Hand des Experimentators in einen Käfig ermöglicht, das Tier zu erforschen und zu riechen vertraut gemacht mit dem Versuchsleiter zu werden. </li><li> Als nächstes heben Sie das Tier mit der Hand des Experimentators in einer sicheren Weise durch Ergreifen Körper der Ratte zwischen den Vorder- und Hinterpfoten so dass weitere Einarbeitung. </li></ol></li><li> Wiegen Sie jedes Tier täglich um eine Grundlinie Körpergewicht vor der Nahrungsentzug erhalten. </li></ol&gt; </li><li> Gerät Habituation und Lebensmittel Familiarization <ol><li> Wiegen Sie jedes Tier täglich um eine Grundlinie Körpergewicht vor der Nahrungsentzug erhalten. </li><li> Beginnen Nahrungs berauben Ratten 3 Tage vor Beginn der Vorausbildung auf einer Standardlabordiät. Geben Ratten 0,05 g Futter pro 1 g Körpergewicht pro Tag (zB eine Ratte mit einem Gewicht von 200 g, beginnen Sie mit 10 g Futter). Stellen Sie sicher, das Körpergewicht um mehr als 10% pro Tag nicht abnehmen durch Überwachung Körpergewicht täglich. <ol><li> Wenn mehrere Tiere in einem Käfig gehalten, können dominant Ratten mehr als weniger Herrschenden zu essen. Für den Fall, das Körpergewicht eines Tieres ab, das Tier zu füttern, anstatt separat Gruppe Fütterung. Geben Sie Wasser ad libitum. </li></ol></li><li> Um die Ratte mit der Greifvorrichtung bekannt zu machen, legen Sie das Tier in das Trainingsfeld (Abbildung 1). Haben Zuckerpellets in dem Trainingsfeld in der Nähe der schlitzförmigen Öffnung angeordnet, um das Tier mit dem Futterpellets vertraut. Führen Sie diese step 10-15 Minuten täglich über 3 Tage. </li></ol></li></ol> 2. Pre-Training und Motorik Learning <ol><li> Pre-Training <ol><li> Einen Tag nach der Einarbeitung, legen Sie das Tier in das Trainingsfeld und legen Sie das Pellet in engem Zusammenhang mit der Schlitzöffnung, damit es durch das Tier Zunge erreicht werden kann. Tiere, die Pellets mit ihren Vorderbein abrufen während der Pre-Training ausschließen Hinweis: In diesem Stadium ist Pellet Retrieval mit der Zunge und in der Regel von entscheidender Bedeutung Methode der Wahl des Tieres. Pellets sollte auf keinen Fall mit der Vordergliedmaße erfasst werden, bis der erste Tag des motorischen Lernens, um eine angemessene Überwachung der gelernt Erreichen Aufgabe zu ermöglichen. Pellet Abruf mit dem Vorderbein während der Pre-Training ist ein Ausschlusskriterium und ist in den meisten Fällen nicht beobachtet. </li><li> Unterrichten Sie die Ratte entweder auf der Rückseite des Käfigs führen und zum Schlitzöffnung oder einen Schritt zurück und drehen sich um die eigene Achse, um die nächste Futterpellet mit erhaltendie Zunge. Nehmen Sie sich Zeit für das Tier, um den Käfig zu erforschen, führen nach hinten und zur Schlitzöffnung. Wenn das Tier nicht ordnungsgemäß die Aufgabe ausführen, verwenden Sie eine Zange zu klopfen Sie leicht am Ende hinter dem Käfig und fangen die Aufmerksamkeit des Tieres. Sobald das Tier ist an der Rückseite, klopfen Sie leicht an der Käfigvorder, um das Tier zu der Schlitzöffnung zu führen. Hinweis: Wenn das Tier eine definierte Standardwert erreicht (zB 50 erfolgreiche Pellet Abfragen mit der Zunge in weniger als 15 min), qualifiziert sich das Tier für den motorischen Lernphase. Am Tag 1 und 2 der vor dem Training können die Lernenden bereits aus Nicht-Lernenden unterschieden werden. Non-Lernende aus der Studie in diesem Schritt ausgeschlossen werden. Dies verringert die Wahrscheinlichkeit, dass eine hohe Anzahl an nicht-Lernenden während des Motorlernschritt (2.2). </li><li> Während vor dem Training, Nahrung zu entziehen Ratten auf einem Standard-Labordiät. Geben Sie Wasser ad libitum. Überwachen Körpergewicht täglich während der gesamten Studie. Machennicht verwenden, gleiche Zimmer zu männlichen und weiblichen Ratten zu trainieren. Stellen Sie sicher, einen ruhigen und lärmfreien Umgebung für das Tier. </li></ol></li><li> Bestimmung von Paw Vorlieben und Motorik Learning <ol><li> Während der ersten Sitzung des motorischen Lernens, ersetzen Sie den Schieber vor dem Fenster mit einem Beitrag. Setzen Sie den Zucker Pellet etwa 1,5 cm vom Fenster auf der Post, so dass das Tier das Pellet mit seiner Zunge nicht erreichen, sondern nur abrufen durch eine präzise forelimb Erreichen und Greifen Bewegung. <ol><li> Um Pellet Abruf durch den Vorderbein durchzusetzen, verwenden Sie eine Zange, um sanft zu bringen das Pellet in der Nähe von Mund des Tieres und Einfahren des Pellets während das Tier versucht Verbrauch mit der Zunge. Diese Aufgabe wiederholt, bis das Tier streckt die Vordergliedmaße und greift ein Pellet. </li></ol></li><li> Legen Sie die Post von zentraler Bedeutung für die Fensteröffnung. Um Pfote Vorlieben bestimmen, genau zu beobachten, die ersten 10 Versuche auf Trainingstag 1. Mehr als 70% der reacHing Versuchen (dh 7 von 10) mit der gleichen forelimb ausgeführt werden. Wenn dies nicht erreicht wird, mit einer weiteren Runde von 10 Studien fort, bis die 70% -Schwelle erreicht. </li><li> Nach paw Präferenzkalkulation, verschieben die Post in Richtung der bevorzugten Vorderbein und richten zentralen bis zur Grenze der Fensteröffnung. Bevorzugte paw Ausrichtung bedeutet, dass der Beitrag wird im Gegensatz zu der jeweiligen Pfote verlagert, um einen optimalen Winkel zu erreichen (Abbildung 1B, C) ​​zu ermöglichen. </li><li> Klassifizieren eine Studie definiert als eine neue Pellet an das Tier präsentiert, so erfolgreich (zu erreichen, zu erfassen, abrufen und essen das Pellet), Tropfen (zu erreichen, Verständnis und Pellet zu verlieren während Retrieval) oder nicht (Knock-Pellet von der Post). Notieren Sie sich jede Prüfung in Ihrem Blatt und die Daten nach dem Versuch zu analysieren. </li><li> Führen einer täglichen Sitzung aus einer festgelegten Anzahl von Versuchen (beispielsweise 150) oder einer maximalen Zeit (beispielsweise 1 Stunde) für jedes Tier. </li><li> Untersuchen Präzision und Feinabstimmungder Bewegung mit ersten Versuch Analyse. Ein erster Versuch wird durch das Greifen des Pellets in einem einzigen monolithischen Bewegung ohne Unterbrechung, Zögern oder Wiederholung der einzelnen Bewegungskomponenten definiert. Beachten Sie sorgfältig jedes Verständnis von der Ratte. <ol><li> Wenn die Ratte zögert oder fährt während einer Reichweite oder versucht mehrere Versuche, um das Pellet vollständig zu erfassen, beachten Sie die entsprechenden Studie als Erfolg jedoch nicht erste Versuch. Wenn das Tier des Pellets in einem einzigen monolithischen Reichweite erfolgreich ergreift, notieren Sie die jeweilige Studie als erfolgreich erster Versuch in einer separaten Spalte in Ihrem Blatt. </li></ol></li><li> Während der motorischen Lernens, Nahrung zu entziehen Ratten auf einem Standard-Labordiät. Geben Sie Wasser ad libitum. Überwachen Körpergewicht täglich während der gesamten Studie. </li></ol></li></ol>

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The authors have nothing to disclose

. Die in dieser Studie gezeigt Paradigma aus Buitrago et 18 al angepasst und unterscheidet sich von der klassischen Einzelpellet Erreichen Paradigma 17 vor allem in zwei Punkten: Zunächst studiert in-session Verbesserung ermöglicht die Analyse des gelernten Aufgabe innerhalb eines Tages, die eine andere Ebene der Informationen, wie Untersuchung des schnellen Lernkomponente im Vergleich zum langsamen Lernkomponente von den durchschnittlichen Tageswert...

Bewegungssteuerung ist eine Kernaufgabe des zentralen Nervensystems (ZNS). Motorik ist die Haupt meßbare Ausgabe des ZNS-Funktion und die Haupt Möglichkeit des Individuums mit der externen Welt zu kommunizieren. Das Verständnis der Prinzipien der Motorik und der Mechanismen, die zugrunde liegen, das Erlernen einer motorischen Aufgabe ist derzeit eine der großen Herausforderungen in der Neurowissenschaft. Morphologischen, physiologischen und molekularen Veränderungen wurden beim Erwerb eines neuen Kraft Aufgabe gefunden. Zum Beispiel die Form und die Anzahl der Synapsen verändern als Reaktion auf Fachkraftausbildung 1-5, und funktionelle Veränderungen der synaptischen Maschinen wurden nach motorischen Lernens beobachtet. Synaptischen Antworten wurden in den Verbindungen der forelimb darstellende Bereich des ausgebildeten motorischen Kortex im Vergleich zum ungeschulten Hemisphäre des gleichen Tier oder Antworten von trainierten Tieren und 6,7 höher. Elektrophysiologische Beobachtungen legen nahe, dass auch Langzeit-Potenzierung (LTP) und Lang-term Depression (LTD), wie Mechanismen finden während des Erlernens einer neuen motorischen Fertigkeit, und daß im Bereich der synaptischen Betrieb, der zwischen den begrenzenden Grenzen von LTP und LTD Sättigung definiert ist, wird modifiziert 8. Weiterhin hat es sich gezeigt, dass Aktivität und Plastizität Marker Vermittlermoleküle wie c-fos, GAP-43 oder BDNF auch Plastizität Hemmung Moleküle wie Nogo-Anzeige regulatorische Funktionen für das Lernen bedingten neuronalen Plastizität 9-16. Diese Fortschritte zu einem besseren Verständnis der Mechanismen des motorischen Lernens zugrunde liegenden konnte nur mit dem Einsatz von Verhaltensparadigmen, die eine präzise Kontrolle des Erwerbs eines neuen motorischen zB Fach forelimb reich erlauben erreicht werden. Nur eine gut strukturierte Verhaltensaufgabe ermöglicht die Überwachung und Erfassung Korrelat Änderungen, die nach dem Lernen und Ausführung der jeweiligen Aufgabe auftreten. Hier wir visuell eine modifizierte Version des Fach forelimb demonstrierenSingle-Pellet Erreichen Aufgabe bei Ratten von Buitrago et al. 17 Die vorgestellte Paradigma angepasst erlaubt die Analyse der Bewegungserfassung in einem täglichen Trainingseinheit (max-session), die die schnelle Lernkomponente und Grunderwerb sowie qualifizierte motorische Lernen über mehrere Sitzungen (zwischen den Sitzungen), die die langsamen Lernkomponente und die Wartung der gelernt Aufgabe 18. Wichtig ist, erhöht diese Verhaltensparadigma den Schwierigkeitsgrad und die Komplexität der motorischen Aufgabe auf zwei Funktionen: Erstens, die Ratten darauf trainiert, um ihre Achse nach jedem Griff drehen und so ihre Körper neu auszurichten vor der nächsten Pellet Reichweite und erneuern der Körper Ausrichtung und verhindert ständige Bewegung der Ausführung aus dem gleichen Winkel. Zweitens werden die Pellets aus einem vertikalen Pfosten vor dem Käfig geholt. Aufgrund des geringen Durchmessers der Post, Pellets kann leicht erfordern eine genaue Verständnis für eine erfolgreiche Wiederherstellung und p gekicktreventing einfaches Abziehen des Pellets gegenüber dem Tier. Solche komplexen Verhaltenstests ermöglicht tiefere Einblicke in die Mechanismen des motorischen Lernens zugrunde. Im Vergleich zu Mäusen, Ratten sind überlegen in ihrer Leistung von komplexen Verhaltensaufgaben und somit besser geeignet für komplexe Paradigmen, wie in dieser Studie dargestellt. Angesichts der zunehmenden genetischen Möglichkeiten für Ratten 19,20, die Kombination von präzisen und gut kontrollierte Verhaltenstestverfahren mit genetischen Manipulationen, Imaging und physiologischen Techniken stellt ein leistungsfähiges Tool-Box, um die neurobiologischen Grundlagen des motorischen Lernens und Gedächtnis besser zu verstehen.

<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.

Erfolgreiche Motor Erwerb von Fähigkeiten ist nur durch konsequente Praxis erreicht. Trotz sorgfältiger Prüfung aller Aspekte, einige Ratten fehlschlagen, um die Aufgabe (Abbildung 2) zu lernen. Diese &quot;Nicht-Lernenden entweder Motivation fehlt, was zu einigen oder nicht vorhanden Versuche der Pellet Abruf aus dem Beginn des Experiments oder allgemein zu verlieren Interesse an der Griff nach den Pellets, die zu kontinuierlichen Fehlversuchen. Dagegen zeigen einige Tiere aggressiv und über motivi...

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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.

Erwerb eines Hochpräzise Skilled Vorderbein Erreichen Aufgabe in Ratten

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

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

Serie: 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.

Die Kongruenz Crossmodale Aufgabe als ein Mittel zum Ziel Behavioral Messen in der Rubber Hand Illusion Paradigm erhalten

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

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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.

Eine Vorgehensweise, um die Wirkung von Längerer Essen Beschränkung Heroin suche in abstinent Ratten untersucht

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.

Die Messung der Fronto-limbischen Aktivität unter Verwendung einer emotionalen Oddball Aufgabe bei Kindern mit familiärer High Risk for Schizophrenia

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.

Die 5-Wahl Serienreaktionszeit-Aufgabe: Eine Aufgabe der Aufmerksamkeit und Impulskontrolle für Nager

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.

Eine Vorgehensweise, um Context-induzierte Erneuerung der Pawlowschen Anlage Alkoholsucht bei Ratten Verhalten beobachten

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

fMRI Validation of fNIRS Measurements During a Naturalistic Task

We present a method to compare brain activity recorded with near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) in a dance video game task to that recorded in a reduced version of the task using fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging). Recently, it has been shown that fNIRS can accurately record functional brain activities equivalent to those concurrently recorded with functional magnetic resonance imaging for classic psychophysical tasks and simple finger tapping paradigms. However, an often quoted benefit of fNIRS is that the technique allows for studying neural mechanisms of complex, naturalistic behaviors that are not possible using the constrained environment of fMRI. Our goal was to extend the findings of previous studies that have shown high correlation between concurrently recorded fNIRS and fMRI signals to compare neural recordings obtained in fMRI procedures to those separately obtained in naturalistic fNIRS experiments. Specifically, we developed a modified version of the dance video game Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) to be compatible with both fMRI and fNIRS imaging procedures. In this methodology we explain the modifications to the software and hardware for compatibility with each technique as well as the scanning and calibration procedures used to obtain representative results. The results of the study show a task-related increase in oxyhemoglobin in both modalities and demonstrate that it is possible to replicate the findings of fMRI using fNIRS in a naturalistic task. This technique represents a methodology to compare fMRI imaging paradigms which utilize a reduced-world environment to fNIRS in closer approximation to naturalistic, full-body activities and behaviors. Further development of this technique may apply to neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson&#8217;s disease, late states of dementia, or those with magnetic susceptibility which are contraindicated for fMRI scanning.

We present a method to compare functional brain activity recorded during a naturalistic task using fNIRS with activity recorded during fMRI.

fMRI Validierung fNIRS Messungen während einer naturalistischen Aufgaben

We present a method to compare brain activity recorded with near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) in a dance video game task to that recorded in a reduced ...

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.

Der modifizierte Loch Board - Mess Verhalten, Kognition und Sozialinteraktion an Mäusen und Ratten

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.

Springenden Ball mit einer gleichmäßig unterschiedlicher Geschwindigkeit in einem Metronom Synchronisierungsaufgabe

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.

Drehknopf Supination Aufgabe: Eine halbautomatische Methode für die Beurteilung der Funktion der Vordergliedmaße bei Ratten

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.

Bewertung der geschickten Vorhension bei Mäusen mit einem 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 ...

Erwerb eines Hochpräzise Skilled Vorderbein Erreichen Aufgabe in Ratten

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