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Wu M, Di Y, Diao Z, Yao L, Qian Z, Wei C, Zheng Q, Liu Y, Han J, Liu Z, Fan J, Tian Y, Ren W. Abnormal reinforcement learning in a mice model of autism induced by prenatal exposure to valproic acid. Behav Brain Res 2020; 395:112836. [PMID: 32745663 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) display dysfunction in learning from environmental stimulus that have positive or negative emotional values, posing obstacles to their everyday life. Unfortunately, mechanisms of the dysfunction are still unclear. Although early intervention for ASD victims based on reinforcement learning are commonly used, the mechanisms and characteristics of the improvement are also unknown. By using a mice model of ASD produced by prenatal exposure to valproic acid (VPA), the present work discovered a delayed response-reinforcer forming, and an impaired habit forming in a negative reinforcement learning paradigm in VPA exposure male offspring. But the extinction of the learned skills was found to become faster than normal male animals. Since escape action of nosepoking and the motility remain unchanged in the VPA male offspring, the impaired learning and the accelerated extinction are caused by deficits in higher brain functions underlying association between the animals' behavioral responses and the outcomes of such responses. The results further suggest that the rodent ASD model produced by prenatal exposure to VPA reproduces the deficits in reasoning or building the contingency between one's own behaviors and the consequent outcomes of the behavior seen in ASD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meilin Wu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Center for Teacher Professional Ability Development, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Yuanyuan Di
- MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Center for Teacher Professional Ability Development, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Zhijun Diao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Center for Teacher Professional Ability Development, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Li Yao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Center for Teacher Professional Ability Development, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Zhaoqiang Qian
- MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Center for Teacher Professional Ability Development, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Chunling Wei
- MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Center for Teacher Professional Ability Development, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Qiaohua Zheng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Center for Teacher Professional Ability Development, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Yihui Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Center for Teacher Professional Ability Development, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Jing Han
- MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Center for Teacher Professional Ability Development, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Zhiqiang Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Center for Teacher Professional Ability Development, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Juan Fan
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Yingfang Tian
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China.
| | - Wei Ren
- MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Center for Teacher Professional Ability Development, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China.
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