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Puthusseryppady V, Cossio D, Yu S, Rezwana F, Hegarty M, Jacobs EG, Chrastil ER. Less spatial exploration is associated with poorer spatial memory in midlife adults. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1382801. [PMID: 38919601 PMCID: PMC11196421 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1382801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Despite its importance for navigation, very little is known about how the normal aging process affects spatial exploration behavior. We aimed to investigate: (1) how spatial exploration behavior may be altered early in the aging process, (2) the relationship between exploration behavior and subsequent spatial memory, and (3) whether exploration behavior can classify participants according to age. Methods Fifty healthy young (aged 18-28) and 87 healthy midlife adults (aged 43-61) freely explored a desktop virtual maze, learning the locations of nine target objects. Various exploration behaviors (object visits, distance traveled, turns made, etc.) were measured. In the test phase, participants navigated from one target object to another without feedback, and their wayfinding success (% correct trials) was measured. Results In the exploration phase, midlife adults exhibited less exploration overall compared to young adults, and prioritized learning target object locations over maze layout. In the test phase, midlife adults exhibited less wayfinding success when compared to the young adults. Furthermore, following principal components analysis (PCA), regression analyses indicated that both exploration quantity and quality components were associated with wayfinding success in the midlife group, but not the young adults. Finally, we could classify participants according to age with similar accuracy using either their exploration behavior or wayfinding success scores. Discussion Our results aid in the understanding of how aging impacts spatial exploration, and encourages future investigations into how pathological aging may affect spatial exploration behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaisakh Puthusseryppady
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Daniela Cossio
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Shuying Yu
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
| | - Farnaz Rezwana
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Mary Hegarty
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
| | - Emily G. Jacobs
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
| | - Elizabeth R. Chrastil
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
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Iggena D, Jeung S, Maier PM, Ploner CJ, Gramann K, Finke C. Multisensory input modulates memory-guided spatial navigation in humans. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1167. [PMID: 37963986 PMCID: PMC10646091 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05522-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Efficient navigation is supported by a cognitive map of space. The hippocampus plays a key role for this map by linking multimodal sensory information with spatial memory representations. However, in human navigation studies, the full range of sensory information is often unavailable due to the stationarity of experimental setups. We investigated the contribution of multisensory information to memory-guided spatial navigation by presenting a virtual version of the Morris water maze on a screen and in an immersive mobile virtual reality setup. Patients with hippocampal lesions and matched controls navigated to memorized object locations in relation to surrounding landmarks. Our results show that availability of multisensory input improves memory-guided spatial navigation in both groups. It has distinct effects on navigational behaviour, with greater improvement in spatial memory performance in patients. We conclude that congruent multisensory information shifts computations to extrahippocampal areas that support spatial navigation and compensates for spatial navigation deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deetje Iggena
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Neurology, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany.
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Unter den Linden 6, 10099, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Sein Jeung
- Technische Universität Berlin, Department of Biological Psychology and Neuroergonomics, Fasanenstraße 1, 10623, Berlin, Germany
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience, Olav Kyrres gate 9,7030, Trondheim, Norway
- Max-Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstraße 1a, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Patrizia M Maier
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Neurology, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Unter den Linden 6, 10099, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christoph J Ploner
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Neurology, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Klaus Gramann
- Technische Universität Berlin, Department of Biological Psychology and Neuroergonomics, Fasanenstraße 1, 10623, Berlin, Germany
- University of California, San Diego, Center for Advanced Neurological Engineering, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Carsten Finke
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Neurology, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Unter den Linden 6, 10099, Berlin, Germany
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3
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Quinlan PD, Katz PS. State-dependent, visually guided behaviors in the nudibranch Berghia stephanieae. J Exp Biol 2023; 226:jeb245213. [PMID: 37661725 PMCID: PMC10560555 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.245213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Nudibranch mollusks have structurally simple eyes whose behavioral roles have not been established. We tested the effects of visual stimuli on the behavior of the nudibranch Berghia stephanieae under different food and hunger conditions. In an arena that was half-shaded, animals spent most of their time in the dark, where they also decreased their speed and made more changes in heading. These behavioral differences between the light and dark were less evident in uniformly illuminated or darkened arenas, suggesting that they were not caused by the level of illumination. Berghia stephanieae responded to distant visual targets; animals approached a black stripe that was at least 15 deg wide on a white background. They did not approach a stripe that was lighter than the background but approached a stripe that was isoluminant with the background, suggesting the detection of spatial information. Animals traveled in convoluted paths in a featureless arena but straightened their paths when a visual target was present even if they did not approach it, suggesting that visual cues were used for navigation. Individuals were less responsive to visual stimuli when food deprived or in the presence of food odor. Thus, B. stephanieae exhibits visually guided behaviors that are influenced by odors and hunger state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phoenix D. Quinlan
- Neuroscience and Behavior Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 611 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Paul S. Katz
- Neuroscience and Behavior Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 611 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
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Baratti G, Sovrano VA. Two Are Better Than One: Integrating Spatial Geometry with a Conspicuous Landmark in Zebrafish Reorientation Behavior. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13030537. [PMID: 36766426 PMCID: PMC9913199 DOI: 10.3390/ani13030537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Within bounded environments of a distinctive shape, zebrafish locate two geometrically equivalent corner positions, based on surface metrics and left-right directions. For instance, the corners with a short surface right/long surface left cannot be distinguished as unique spatial locations unless other cues break the symmetry. By conjoining geometry with a conspicuous landmark, such as a different-color surface, one of the two geometric twins will have a short different-colored surface right, becoming identifiable. Zebrafish spontaneously combine a rectangular white arena's shape with a blue wall landmark, but only when this landmark is near the target corner; when far, that cue triggers a steady attractiveness bias. In this study, we trained zebrafish to use a blue wall landmark in conjunction with a rectangular-shaped arena, providing them rewards over time. We found that trained zebrafish learned to locate the target corner, regardless of the landmark's length and distance, overcoming the attractiveness bias. Zebrafish preferred geometry after removing the landmark (geometric test), but not if put into conflict geometry and landmark (affine transformation). Analysis on movement patterns revealed wall-following exploration as a consistent strategy for approaching the target corner, with individual left-right direction. The capacity of zebrafish to handle different sources of information may be grounds for investigating how environmental changes affect fish spatial behavior in threatened ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greta Baratti
- CIMeC, Center for Mind/Brain Sciences, University of Trento, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
- Correspondence: (G.B.); (V.A.S.); Tel.: +39-0464-808703 (V.A.S.)
| | - Valeria Anna Sovrano
- CIMeC, Center for Mind/Brain Sciences, University of Trento, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
- Correspondence: (G.B.); (V.A.S.); Tel.: +39-0464-808703 (V.A.S.)
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Maphanga VB, Skalicka-Wozniak K, Budzynska B, Skiba A, Chen W, Agoni C, Enslin GM, Viljoen AM. Mesembryanthemum tortuosum L. alkaloids modify anxiety-like behaviour in a zebrafish model. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 290:115068. [PMID: 35134486 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Mesembryanthemum tortuosum L. (previously known as Sceletium tortuosum (L.) N.E. Br.) is indigenous to South Africa and traditionally used to alleviate anxiety, stress and depression. Mesembrine and its alkaloid analogues such as mesembrenone, mesembrenol and mesembranol have been identified as the key compounds responsible for the reported effects on the central nervous system. AIM OF THE STUDY To investigate M. tortuosum alkaloids for possible anxiolytic-like effects in the 5-dpf in vivo zebrafish model by assessing thigmotaxis and locomotor activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS Locomotor activity and reverse-thigmotaxis, recognised anxiety-related behaviours in 5-days post fertilization zebrafish larvae, were analysed under simulated stressful conditions of alternating light-dark challenges. Cheminformatics screening and molecular docking were also performed to rationalize the inhibitory activity of the alkaloids on the serotonin reuptake transporter, the accepted primary mechanism of action of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Mesembrine has been reported to have inhibitory effects on serotonin reuptake, with consequential anti-depressant and anxiolytic effects. RESULTS All four alkaloids assessed decreased the anxiety-related behaviour of zebrafish larvae exposed to the light-dark challenge. Significant increases in the percentage of time spent in the central arena during the dark phase were also observed when larvae were exposed to the pure alkaloids (mesembrenone, mesembrenol, mesembrine and mesembrenol) compared to the control. However, mesembrenone and mesembranol demonstrated a greater anxiolytic-like effect than the other alkaloids. In addition to favourable pharmacokinetic and physicochemical properties revealed via in silico predictions, high-affinity interactions characterized the binding of the alkaloids with the serotonin transporter. CONCLUSIONS M. tortuosum alkaloids demonstrated an anxiolytic-like effect in zebrafish larvae providing evidence for its traditional and modern day use as an anxiolytic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica B Maphanga
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
| | - Krystyna Skalicka-Wozniak
- Department of Natural Products Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, 1 Chodzki Street, 20-093, Lublin, Poland
| | - Barbara Budzynska
- Behavioral Studies Laboratory, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, 4A Chodzki Street, 20-093, Lublin, Poland
| | - Andriana Skiba
- Department of Natural Products Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, 1 Chodzki Street, 20-093, Lublin, Poland
| | - Weiyang Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
| | - Clement Agoni
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
| | - Gill M Enslin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
| | - Alvaro M Viljoen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa; SAMRC Herbal Drugs Research Unit, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa.
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OTHMAN MZ, HASSAN Z, CHE HAS AT. Morris water maze: a versatile and pertinent tool for assessing spatial learning and memory. Exp Anim 2022; 71:264-280. [PMID: 35314563 PMCID: PMC9388345 DOI: 10.1538/expanim.21-0120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Since its development about 40 years ago (1981–2021), Morris water maze has turned into a very popular tool for assessing spatial learning and memory. Its many advantages have ensured its
pertinence to date. These include its effectiveness in evaluating hippocampal-dependent learning and memory, exemption from motivational differences across diverse experimental
manipulations, reliability in various cross-species studies, and adaptability to many experimental conditions with various test protocols. Nonetheless, throughout its establishment, several
experimental and analysis loopholes have galvanized researchers to assess ways in which it could be improved and adapted to fill this gap. Therefore, in this review, we briefly summarize
these developments since the early years of its establishment through to the most recent advancements in computerized analysis, offering more comprehensive analysis paradigms. In addition,
we discuss the adaptability of the Morris water maze across different test versions and analysis paradigms, providing suggestions with regard to the best paradigms for particular
experimental conditions. Hence, the proper selection of the experimental protocols, analysis paradigms, and consideration of the assay’s limitations should be carefully considered. Given
that appropriate measures are taken, with various adaptations made, the Morris water maze will likely remain a relevant tool to assess the mechanisms of spatial learning and memory.
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7
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Chernyuk DP, Bol’shakova AV, Vlasova OL, Bezprozvanny IB. Possibilities and Prospects of the
Behavioral Test “Morris Water Maze”. J EVOL BIOCHEM PHYS+ 2021. [DOI: 10.1134/s0022093021020113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Thornberry C, Cimadevilla JM, Commins S. Virtual Morris water maze: opportunities and challenges. Rev Neurosci 2021; 32:887-903. [PMID: 33838098 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2020-0149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The ability to accurately recall locations and navigate our environment relies on multiple cognitive mechanisms. The behavioural and neural correlates of spatial navigation have been repeatedly examined using different types of mazes and tasks with animals. Accurate performances of many of these tasks have proven to depend on specific circuits and brain structures and some have become the standard test of memory in many disease models. With the introduction of virtual reality (VR) to neuroscience research, VR tasks have become a popular method of examining human spatial memory and navigation. However, the types of VR tasks used to examine navigation across laboratories appears to greatly differ, from open arena mazes and virtual towns to driving simulators. Here, we examined over 200 VR navigation papers, and found that the most popular task used is the virtual analogue of the Morris water maze (VWM). Although we highlight the many advantages of using the VWM task, there are also some major difficulties related to the widespread use of this behavioural method. Despite the task's popularity, we demonstrate an inconsistency of use - particularly with respect to the environmental setup and procedures. Using different versions of the virtual water maze makes replication of findings and comparison of results across researchers very difficult. We suggest the need for protocol and design standardisation, alongside other difficulties that need to be addressed, if the virtual water maze is to become the 'gold standard' for human spatial research similar to its animal counterpart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conor Thornberry
- Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, John Hume Building, North Campus, Maynooth, Co KildareW23 F2H6, Ireland
| | - Jose M Cimadevilla
- Department of Psychology and Health Research Center, University of Almeria, 04120La Cañada, Almería, Spain
| | - Sean Commins
- Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, John Hume Building, North Campus, Maynooth, Co KildareW23 F2H6, Ireland
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9
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Gromer D, Kiser DP, Pauli P. Thigmotaxis in a virtual human open field test. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6670. [PMID: 33758204 PMCID: PMC7988123 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85678-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal models are used to study neurobiological mechanisms in mental disorders. Although there has been significant progress in the understanding of neurobiological underpinnings of threat-related behaviors and anxiety, little progress was made with regard to new or improved treatments for mental disorders. A possible reason for this lack of success is the unknown predictive and cross-species translational validity of animal models used in preclinical studies. Re-translational approaches, therefore, seek to establish cross-species translational validity by identifying behavioral operations shared across species. To this end, we implemented a human open field test in virtual reality and measured behavioral indices derived from animal studies in three experiments (\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$\textit{N}=80$$\end{document}N=80). In addition, we investigated the associations between anxious traits and such behaviors. Results indicated a strong similarity in behavior across species, i.e., participants in our study—like rodents in animal studies—preferred to stay in the outer region of the open field, as indexed by multiple behavioral parameters. However, correlational analyses did not clearly indicate that these behaviors were a function of anxious traits of participants. We conclude that the realized virtual open field test is able to elicit thigmotaxis and thus demonstrates cross-species validity of this aspect of the test. Modulatory effects of anxiety on human open field behavior should be examined further by incorporating possible threats in the virtual scenario and/or by examining participants with higher anxiety levels or anxiety disorder patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Gromer
- Department of Psychology (Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Psychotherapy), University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
| | - Dominik P Kiser
- Department of Psychology (Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Psychotherapy), University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Paul Pauli
- Department of Psychology (Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Psychotherapy), University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.,Center of Mental Health, Medical Faculty, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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NavWell: A simplified virtual-reality platform for spatial navigation and memory experiments. Behav Res Methods 2020; 52:1189-1207. [PMID: 31637666 DOI: 10.3758/s13428-019-01310-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Being able to navigate, recall important locations, and find the way home are critical skills, essential for survival for both humans and animals. These skills can be examined in the laboratory using the Morris water maze, often considered the gold standard test of animal navigation. In this task, animals are required to locate and recall the location of an escape platform hidden in a pool filled with water. Because animals can not see the platform directly, they must use various landmarks in the environment to escape. With recent advances in technology and virtual reality (VR), many tasks originally used in the animal literature can now be translated for human studies. The virtual water maze task is no exception. However, a number of issues are associated with these mazes, including cost, lack of flexibility, and lack of standardization in terms of experimental designs and procedures. Here we present a virtual water maze system (NavWell) that is readily downloadable and free to use. The system allows for the easy design of experiments and the testing of participants on a desktop computer or fully immersive VR environment. The data from four independent experiments are presented in order to validate the software. From these experiments, a set of procedures for use with a number of well-known memory tests is suggested. This potentially can help with the standardization of navigational research and with navigational testing in the clinic or in an educational environment. Finally, we discuss the limitations of the software and plans for its development and future use.
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Pierre C, Pradère N, Froc C, Ornelas-García P, Callebert J, Rétaux S. A mutation in monoamine oxidase (MAO) affects the evolution of stress behavior in the blind cavefish Astyanax mexicanus. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb226092. [PMID: 32737213 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.226092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
The neurotransmitter serotonin controls a variety of physiological and behavioral processes. In humans, mutations affecting monoamine oxidase (MAO), the serotonin-degrading enzyme, are highly deleterious. Yet, blind cavefish of the species Astyanax mexicanus carry a partial loss-of-function mutation in MAO (P106L) and thrive in their subterranean environment. Here, we established four fish lines, corresponding to the blind cave-dwelling and the sighted river-dwelling morphs of this species, with or without the mutation, in order to decipher the exact contribution of mao P106L in the evolution of cavefish neurobehavioral traits. Unexpectedly, although mao P106L appeared to be an excellent candidate for the genetic determinism of the loss of aggressive and schooling behaviors in cavefish, we demonstrated that it was not the case. Similarly, the anatomical variations in monoaminergic systems observed between cavefish and surface fish brains were independent from mao P106L, and rather due to other, morph-dependent developmental processes. However, we found that mao P106L strongly affected anxiety-like behaviors. Cortisol measurements showed lower basal levels and an increased amplitude of stress response after a change of environment in fish carrying the mutation. Finally, we studied the distribution of the P106L mao allele in wild populations of cave and river A. mexicanus, and discovered that the mutant allele was present - and sometimes fixed - in all populations inhabiting caves of the Sierra de El Abra. The possibility that this partial loss-of-function mao allele evolves under a selective or a neutral regime in the particular cave environment is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constance Pierre
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, 91190, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Naomie Pradère
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, 91190, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Cynthia Froc
- Amatrace platform, Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, 91190, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Patricia Ornelas-García
- Departamento de Zoología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de México, CP 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Jacques Callebert
- Service Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire, Hôpital Lariboisière, 75475 Paris, France
| | - Sylvie Rétaux
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, 91190, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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12
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Chebat DR, Schneider FC, Ptito M. Spatial Competence and Brain Plasticity in Congenital Blindness via Sensory Substitution Devices. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:815. [PMID: 32848575 PMCID: PMC7406645 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In congenital blindness (CB), tactile, and auditory information can be reinterpreted by the brain to compensate for visual information through mechanisms of brain plasticity triggered by training. Visual deprivation does not cause a cognitive spatial deficit since blind people are able to acquire spatial knowledge about the environment. However, this spatial competence takes longer to achieve but is eventually reached through training-induced plasticity. Congenitally blind individuals can further improve their spatial skills with the extensive use of sensory substitution devices (SSDs), either visual-to-tactile or visual-to-auditory. Using a combination of functional and anatomical neuroimaging techniques, our recent work has demonstrated the impact of spatial training with both visual to tactile and visual to auditory SSDs on brain plasticity, cortical processing, and the achievement of certain forms of spatial competence. The comparison of performances between CB and sighted people using several different sensory substitution devices in perceptual and sensory-motor tasks uncovered the striking ability of the brain to rewire itself during perceptual learning and to interpret novel sensory information even during adulthood. We discuss here the implications of these findings for helping blind people in navigation tasks and to increase their accessibility to both real and virtual environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel-Robert Chebat
- Visual and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory (VCN Lab), Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
- Navigation and Accessibility Research Center of Ariel University (NARCA), Ariel, Israel
| | - Fabien C. Schneider
- Department of Radiology, University of Lyon, Saint-Etienne, France
- Neuroradiology Unit, University Hospital of Saint-Etienne, Saint-Etienne, France
| | - Maurice Ptito
- BRAIN Lab, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Chaire de Recherche Harland Sanders en Sciences de la Vision, École d’Optométrie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
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Breinbauer HA, Contreras MD, Lira JP, Guevara C, Castillo L, Ruëdlinger K, Muñoz D, Delano PH. Spatial Navigation Is Distinctively Impaired in Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness. Front Neurol 2020; 10:1361. [PMID: 31998220 PMCID: PMC6970195 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.01361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: To determine whether performance in a virtual spatial navigational task is poorer in persistent postural perceptual dizziness (PPPD) patients than in healthy volunteers and patients suffering other vestibular disorders. Methods: Subjects were asked to perform three virtual Morris water maze spatial navigational tasks: (i) with a visible target, (ii) then with an invisible target and a fixed starting position, and finally (iii) with an invisible target and random initial position. Data were analyzed using the cumulative search error (CSE) index. Results: While all subjects performed equally well with a visible target, the patients with PPPD (n = 19) performed poorer (p < 0.004) in the invisible target/navigationally demanding tasks (CSE median of 8) than did the healthy controls (n = 18; CSE: 3) and vestibular controls (n = 19; CSE: 4). Navigational performance in the most challenging setting allowed us to discriminate PPPD patients from controls with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.83 (sensitivity 78.1%; specificity 83.3%). PPPD patients manifested more chaotic and disorganized search strategies, with more dispersion in the navigational pool than those of the non-PPPD groups (standard distance deviation of 0.97 vs. 0.46 in vestibular controls and 0.20 in healthy controls; p < 0.001). Conclusions: While all patients suffering a vestibular disorder had poorer navigational abilities than healthy controls did, patients with PPPD showed the worst performance, to the point that this variable allowed the discrimination of PPPD from non-PPPD patients. This distinct impairment in spatial navigation abilities offers new insights into PPPD pathophysiology and may also represent a new biomarker for diagnosing this entity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayo A Breinbauer
- Department of Otolaryngology, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Department of Neurocience, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Department of Otolaryngology, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Maria Daniela Contreras
- Department of Otolaryngology, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Juan P Lira
- Department of Otolaryngology, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Claudia Guevara
- Department of Otolaryngology, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Leslie Castillo
- Department of Otolaryngology, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Katherine Ruëdlinger
- Department of Otolaryngology, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Daniel Muñoz
- Department of Otolaryngology, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Paul H Delano
- Department of Otolaryngology, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Department of Neurocience, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Frame AK, Lone A, Harris RA, Cumming RC. Simple Protocol for Distinguishing Drug-induced Effects on Spatial Memory Acquisition, Consolidation and Retrieval in Mice Using the Morris Water Maze. Bio Protoc 2019; 9:e3376. [PMID: 33654872 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.3376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The Morris water maze (MWM) is one of the most commonly used tests for assessing spatial learning and memory in mice. While the MWM is highly amenable to testing the effects of memory modifying drugs, most studies do not consider the timing or duration of drug exposure when conducting the MWM assay; factors that can strongly influence the effect of the drug on different stages of memory and interfere with data interpretation. Herein we describe a MWM protocol which offers the advantage of distinguishing the impact of a fast acting intraperitoneally (IP) injected drug on the different stages of spatial memory: acquisition, consolidation, and retrieval. Mice initially undergo habituation to both the MWM apparatus and IP injection procedure over the course of three days. For assessing the effect of a drug on memory acquisition, mice are injected with the drug prior to training sessions over four consecutive days, where mice learn to find an escape platform in a circular water tank using distal spatial cues. To determine the effect of the drug on memory consolidation, mice are injected with the drug immediately after each training session. For testing the effect of a drug on memory retrieval, mice receive mock IP injections on each training day and the drug is IP injected only once, prior to a probe trial, where mice attempt to locate the platform following its removal from the tank. This protocol provides a simple strategy for distinguishing the effect(s) of a CNS acting drug on the different stages of memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel K Frame
- Department of Biology, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Asad Lone
- Department of Biology, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Richard A Harris
- Department of Biology, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Robert C Cumming
- Department of Biology, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
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15
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Gender, videogames and navigation in virtual space. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2019; 199:102895. [PMID: 31377309 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2019.102895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Revised: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Spatial abilities associated with success in educational and occupational fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) have been repeatedly shown to be gendered, with males demonstrating measurably better spatial abilities than females. Less is known about why this is, or about how experience with spatial systems (videogames, for example) affects these abilities. We conducted two experiments with 82 participants with varying degrees of videogame experience on measures of mental rotation, spatial learning, and spatial memory. Spatial learning and memory were tested in a Virtual Morris Water Maze. In the first experiment, the maze lacked proximal landmarks. Males proved faster and more accurate than females in learning the location of the hidden platform. As predicted males also outperformed females in mental rotation abilities. Mental rotation correlated with performance in the virtual maze, indicating that in the absence of proximal landmarks, participants relied on strategies requiring mental rotation. Experienced 3D videogame players did not demonstrate superior spatial learning and memory, but performed better than novices in mental rotation. In the second experiment, the maze had proximal cues, in the form of landmarks on the circumference of the virtual pool, and gender-based differences in navigational performance significantly diminished. Under these changed environmental conditions, mental rotation ability did not correlate with performance in the VMWM, suggesting that given proximal cues, the need for mental rotation diminishes. Differences between videogame novices and experts also decreased when proximal cues were provided. Females in particular obtained more discernible benefits from videogame experience. Together, these experiments reveal how the spatial abilities and strategies used to solve the Morris maze task vary with environmental design. Given the structural similarities between the virtual maze and videogame environments, these results offer insight into how spatial experience gained through videogame playing can affect aspects of spatial cognition, and can help identify design elements that contribute to their improvement.
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16
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Strategic predictors of performance in a divided attention task. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0195131. [PMID: 29621292 PMCID: PMC5886418 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2017] [Accepted: 03/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study we investigate the strategies of subjects in a complex divided attention task. We conducted a series of experiments with ten participants and evaluated their performance. After an extensive analysis, we identified four strategic measures that justify the achievement of the participants, by highlighting the individual differences and predicting performance in a regression analysis using generalized estimating equations. Selecting the more urgent task and user action between multiple simultaneous possibilities form two of the strategic decisions, respectively. The third one refers to choosing a response within the same task when the opportunity is present. The fourth and most important measure of strategy involves thinking ahead and executing an action before a situation would become critical. This latter one has the effect of reducing later cognitive load or timing constraints and it is shown to explain almost as much variance in performance as the other three, more straightforward predictors together. In addition to determining these strategic predictors, we also show how manipulating task difficulty induces a shift in strategy, thus impairing human performance in the rehearsed task. The results of this study indicate that considerable differences in the divided attention ability of normal subjects can be identified early and with simple measurements. The importance of describing and analyzing strategies is also emphasized, which can substantially influence performance in complex tasks and may serve training needs.
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17
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Makany T, Redhead ES, Dror IE. Short Article: Spatial Exploration Patterns Determine Navigation Efficiency: Trade-off between Memory Demands and Distance Travelled. Q J Exp Psychol (Hove) 2018; 60:1594-602. [PMID: 17853190 DOI: 10.1080/17470210701536310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
A total of 41 participants explored a novel square-shaped environment containing five identical boxes each hiding a visually distinct object. After an initial free exploration the participants were required to locate the objects first in a predetermined and subsequently in an optional order task. Two distinct exploration strategies emerged: Participants explored either along the main axes of the room (axial), or in a more spatially spread, circular pattern around the edges of the room (circular). These initial exploration strategies influenced the optimality of spatial navigation performance in the subsequent optional order task. The results reflect a trade-off between memory demands and distance efficiency. The more sequential axial strategy resulted in fewer demands on spatial memory but required more distance to be travelled. The circular strategy was more demanding on memory but required less subsequent travelling distance. The findings are discussed in terms of spatial knowledge acquisition and optimality of strategy representations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamas Makany
- School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.
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18
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Wall following in Xenopus laevis is barrier-driven. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2017; 204:183-195. [PMID: 29119247 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-017-1227-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2017] [Revised: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/01/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The tendency of animals to follow boundaries within their environment can serve as a strategy for spatial learning or defensive behaviour. We examined whether Xenopus laevis tadpoles and froglets employ such a strategy by characterizing their swimming pattern in a square tank with shallow water. Trajectories obtained from video recordings were analysed for proximity to the nearest wall. With the exception of young larvae, the vast majority of animals (both tadpoles and froglets) spent a disproportionately large amount of time near the wall. The total distance covered was not a confounding factor, but animals were stronger wall followers in smaller tanks. Wall following was also not influenced by whether the surrounding walls of the tank were black or white, illuminated by infrared light, or by the presence or absence of tentacles. When given a choice in a convex tank to swim straight and leave the wall or turn to follow the wall, the animals consistently left the wall, indicating that wall following in X. laevis is barrier-driven. This implies that wall following behaviour in Xenopus derives from constraints imposed by the environment (or the experimenter) and is unlikely a strategy for spatial learning or safety seeking.
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Piber D, Nowacki J, Mueller SC, Wingenfeld K, Otte C. Sex effects on spatial learning but not on spatial memory retrieval in healthy young adults. Behav Brain Res 2017; 336:44-50. [PMID: 28847444 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.08.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2017] [Revised: 08/04/2017] [Accepted: 08/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Sex differences have been found in spatial learning and spatial memory, with several studies indicating that males outperform females. We tested in the virtual Morris Water Maze (vMWM) task, whether sex differences in spatial cognitive processes are attributable to differences in spatial learning or spatial memory retrieval in a large student sample. METHODS We tested 90 healthy students (45 women and 45 men) with a mean age of 23.5 years (SD=3.5). Spatial learning and spatial memory retrieval were measured by using the vMWM task, during which participants had to search a virtual pool for a hidden platform, facilitated by visual cues surrounding the pool. Several learning trials assessed spatial learning, while a separate probe trial assessed spatial memory retrieval. RESULTS We found a significant sex effect during spatial learning, with males showing shorter latency and shorter path length, as compared to females (all p<0.001). Yet, there was no significant sex effect in spatial memory retrieval (p=0.615). Furthermore, post-hoc analyses revealed significant sex differences in spatial search strategies (p<0.05), but no difference in the number of platform crossings (p=0.375). CONCLUSION Our results indicate that in healthy young adults, males show faster spatial learning in a virtual environment, as compared to females. Interestingly, we found no significant sex differences during spatial memory retrieval. Our study raises the question, whether men and women use different learning strategies, which nevertheless result in equal performances of spatial memory retrieval.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique Piber
- Department of Psychiatry, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany.
| | - Jan Nowacki
- Department of Psychiatry, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Sven C Mueller
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Katja Wingenfeld
- Department of Psychiatry, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Otte
- Department of Psychiatry, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
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20
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Ouyang J, Pace E, Lepczyk L, Kaufman M, Zhang J, Perrine SA, Zhang J. Blast-Induced Tinnitus and Elevated Central Auditory and Limbic Activity in Rats: A Manganese-Enhanced MRI and Behavioral Study. Sci Rep 2017; 7:4852. [PMID: 28687812 PMCID: PMC5501813 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-04941-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2016] [Accepted: 04/27/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Blast-induced tinitus is the number one service-connected disability that currently affects military personnel and veterans. To elucidate its underlying mechanisms, we subjected 13 Sprague Dawley adult rats to unilateral 14 psi blast exposure to induce tinnitus and measured auditory and limbic brain activity using manganese-enhanced MRI (MEMRI). Tinnitus was evaluated with a gap detection acoustic startle reflex paradigm, while hearing status was assessed with prepulse inhibition (PPI) and auditory brainstem responses (ABRs). Both anxiety and cognitive functioning were assessed using elevated plus maze and Morris water maze, respectively. Five weeks after blast exposure, 8 of the 13 blasted rats exhibited chronic tinnitus. While acoustic PPI remained intact and ABR thresholds recovered, the ABR wave P1-N1 amplitude reduction persisted in all blast-exposed rats. No differences in spatial cognition were observed, but blasted rats as a whole exhibited increased anxiety. MEMRI data revealed a bilateral increase in activity along the auditory pathway and in certain limbic regions of rats with tinnitus compared to age-matched controls. Taken together, our data suggest that while blast-induced tinnitus may play a role in auditory and limbic hyperactivity, the non-auditory effects of blast and potential traumatic brain injury may also exert an effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Ouyang
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Edward Pace
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Laura Lepczyk
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Michael Kaufman
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Jessica Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Shane A Perrine
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Jinsheng Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
- Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, Wayne State University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
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21
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Rahman Q, Sharp J, McVeigh M, Ho ML. Sexual Orientation-Related Differences in Virtual Spatial Navigation and Spatial Search Strategies. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2017; 46:1279-1294. [PMID: 28401317 PMCID: PMC5487905 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-017-0986-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2016] [Revised: 03/27/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2017] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Spatial abilities are generally hypothesized to differ between men and women, and people with different sexual orientations. According to the cross-sex shift hypothesis, gay men are hypothesized to perform in the direction of heterosexual women and lesbian women in the direction of heterosexual men on cognitive tests. This study investigated sexual orientation differences in spatial navigation and strategy during a virtual Morris water maze task (VMWM). Forty-four heterosexual men, 43 heterosexual women, 39 gay men, and 34 lesbian/bisexual women (aged 18-54 years) navigated a desktop VMWM and completed measures of intelligence, handedness, and childhood gender nonconformity (CGN). We quantified spatial learning (hidden platform trials), probe trial performance, and cued navigation (visible platform trials). Spatial strategies during hidden and probe trials were classified into visual scanning, landmark use, thigmotaxis/circling, and enfilading. In general, heterosexual men scored better than women and gay men on some spatial learning and probe trial measures and used more visual scan strategies. However, some differences disappeared after controlling for age and estimated IQ (e.g., in visual scanning heterosexual men differed from women but not gay men). Heterosexual women did not differ from lesbian/bisexual women. For both sexes, visual scanning predicted probe trial performance. More feminine CGN scores were associated with lower performance among men and greater performance among women on specific spatial learning or probe trial measures. These results provide mixed evidence for the cross-sex shift hypothesis of sexual orientation-related differences in spatial cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qazi Rahman
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, Guy's Hospital Campus, London, SE1 9RT, UK.
| | - Jonathan Sharp
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, Guy's Hospital Campus, London, SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Meadhbh McVeigh
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, Guy's Hospital Campus, London, SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Man-Ling Ho
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, Guy's Hospital Campus, London, SE1 9RT, UK
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Yang X, Lin J, Peng X, Zhang Q, Zhang Y, Guo N, Zhou S, Li Q. Effects of picrotoxin on zebrafish larvae behaviors: A comparison study with PTZ. Epilepsy Behav 2017; 70:224-231. [PMID: 28437751 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2017.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2016] [Revised: 02/09/2017] [Accepted: 03/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Larval zebrafish (Danio rerio) have been suggested as a high-throughput experimental animal model for epilepsy-related genetic and developmental studies. The behavioral manifestations in response to the seizure-inducing drugs picrotoxin (PTX) (1, 5, 25, 125, or 625μM) or pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) (1, 2, 4, 8, or 16mM) under light-dark conditions were studied using zebrafish larvae at 5days post-fertilization (dpf). Two behavioral parameters, locomotor activity and thigmotaxis behavior, were analyzed. We conclude that high concentrations of PTX treatment increased locomotion and thigmotaxis in 5 dpf zebrafish larvae under continuous illumination and the locomotion of PTX-treated zebrafish was decreased under the dark condition. High concentrations of PTX treatment also increased thigmotaxis (an indicator of increased anxiety levels) in zebrafish larvae under both continuous illumination and dark condition. PTZ treatment increased the locomotion of 5 dpf zebrafish larvae under continuous illumination. However, 2mM PTZ decreased locomotion, and high concentrations of PTZ decreased the locomotion of larvae under dark conditions. High concentrations of PTZ treatment also increased thigmotaxis in the zebrafish larvae under both continuous illumination and dark condition. Compared with PTZ, PTX leads to higher levels of movement under light conditions and lower levels of movement under dark condition. However, the level of thigmotaxis in the zebrafish larvae was similar between the two drug treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Yang
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, No. 399, Wanyuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Jia Lin
- Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect, Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, 399 Wanyuan Road, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Xiaolan Peng
- Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect, Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, 399 Wanyuan Road, Shanghai 201102, China
| | | | - Yinglan Zhang
- Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect, Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, 399 Wanyuan Road, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Ning Guo
- Center for Chinese Medical Therapy and Systems Biology, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Shuizhen Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, No. 399, Wanyuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Qiang Li
- Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect, Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, 399 Wanyuan Road, Shanghai 201102, China.
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Wang B, Katsube T, Begum N, Nenoi M. Revisiting the health effects of psychological stress-its influence on susceptibility to ionizing radiation: a mini-review. JOURNAL OF RADIATION RESEARCH 2016; 57:325-35. [PMID: 27242342 PMCID: PMC4973650 DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rrw035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2015] [Revised: 02/02/2016] [Accepted: 02/25/2016] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Both psychological stress (PS) and ionizing radiation (IR) cause varied detrimental effects on humans. There has been no direct evidence so far showing PS alone could cause cancer; however, long-lasting PS may affect our overall health and ability to cope with cancer. Due to their living conditions and occupations, some people may encounter concurrent exposure to both PS and IR to a high extent. In addition to possible health effects resulting directly from exposure to IR on these people, fear of IR exposure is also a cause of PS. The question of whether PS would influence susceptibility to IR, radiocarcinogenesis in particular, is of great concern by both the academic world and the public. Recently, investigations using animal PS models demonstrated that PS could modulate susceptibility to IR, causing increased susceptibility to radiocarcinogenesis in Trp53-heterozygous mice, hematological toxicity in peripheral blood and elevated chromosome aberration (dicentrics) frequency in splenocytes of Trp53-wild-type mice. To actively reduce health risk from exposure to IR, further studies are needed to cumulate more evidence and provide insights into the mechanisms underlying the alterations in susceptibility due to PS modulation. This mini-review gives a general overview of the significance of PS effects on humans and experimental animals, with a special focus on summarizing the latest weight-of-evidence approaches to radiobiological studies on PS-induced alterations in susceptibility in experimental animal models. The susceptibility being investigated is mainly in the context of the impact of the modulatory effect of PS on radiocarcinogenesis; we seek to improve understanding of the combined effects of exposure to both PS and IR in order to facilitate, via active intervention, strategies for radiation risk reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Wang
- Radiation Risk Reduction Research Program, Research Center for Radiation Protection, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Takanori Katsube
- Radiation Risk Reduction Research Program, Research Center for Radiation Protection, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Nasrin Begum
- Center for Nuclear Medicine and Ultrasound, Rajshahi Medical College Hospital Campus, G.P.O. Box No. 35, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
| | - Mitsuru Nenoi
- Radiation Risk Reduction Research Program, Research Center for Radiation Protection, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
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Geddes RI, Peterson BL, Stein DG, Sayeed I. Progesterone Treatment Shows Benefit in Female Rats in a Pediatric Model of Controlled Cortical Impact Injury. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0146419. [PMID: 26799561 PMCID: PMC4723082 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0146419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2015] [Accepted: 12/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose We recently showed that progesterone treatment can reduce lesion size and behavioral deficits after moderate-to-severe bilateral injury to the medial prefrontal cortex in immature male rats. Whether there are important sex differences in response to injury and progesterone treatment in very young subjects has not been given sufficient attention. Here we investigated progesterone’s effects in the same model of brain injury but with pre-pubescent females. Methods Twenty-eight-day-old female Sprague-Dawley rats received sham (n = 14) or controlled cortical impact (CCI) (n = 21) injury, were given progesterone (8 mg/kg body weight) or vehicle injections on post-injury days (PID) 1–7, and underwent behavioral testing from PID 9–27. Brains were evaluated for lesion size at PID 28. Results Lesion size in vehicle-treated female rats with CCI injury was smaller than that previously reported for similarly treated age-matched male rats. Treatment with progesterone reduced the effect of CCI on extent of damage and behavioral deficits. Conclusion Pre-pubescent female rats with midline CCI injury to the frontal cortex have reduced morphological and functional deficits following progesterone treatment. While gender differences in susceptibility to this injury were observed, progesterone treatment produced beneficial effects in young rats of both sexes following CCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rastafa I. Geddes
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322 United States of America
| | - Bethany L. Peterson
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322 United States of America
| | - Donald G. Stein
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322 United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Iqbal Sayeed
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322 United States of America
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Liu X, Lin J, Zhang Y, Peng X, Guo N, Li Q. Effects of diphenylhydantoin on locomotion and thigmotaxis of larval zebrafish. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2016; 53:41-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2015.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2015] [Revised: 10/26/2015] [Accepted: 11/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Wang B, Tanaka K, Katsube T, Ninomiya Y, Vares G, Liu Q, Morita A, Nakajima T, Nenoi M. Chronic restraint-induced stress has little modifying effect on radiation hematopoietic toxicity in mice. JOURNAL OF RADIATION RESEARCH 2015; 56:760-7. [PMID: 26045492 PMCID: PMC4576999 DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rrv030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2014] [Accepted: 05/01/2015] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Both radiation and stresses cause detrimental effects on humans. Besides possible health effects resulting directly from radiation exposure, the nuclear plant accident is a cause of social psychological stresses. A recent study showed that chronic restraint-induced stresses (CRIS) attenuated Trp53 functions and increased carcinogenesis susceptibility of Trp53-heterozygous mice to total-body X-irradiation (TBXI), having a big impact on the academic world and a sensational effect on the public, especially the residents living in radioactively contaminated areas. It is important to investigate the possible modification effects from CRIS on radiation-induced health consequences in Trp53 wild-type (Trp53wt) animals. Prior to a carcinogenesis study, effects of TBXI on the hematopoietic system under CRIS were investigated in terms of hematological abnormality in the peripheral blood and residual damage in the bone marrow erythrocytes using a mouse restraint model. Five-week-old male Trp53wt C57BL/6J mice were restrained 6 h per day for 28 consecutive days, and TBXI (4 Gy) was given on the 8th day. Results showed that CRIS alone induced a marked decrease in the red blood cell (RBC) and the white blood cell (WBC) count, while TBXI caused significantly lower counts of RBCs, WBCs and blood platelets, and a lower concentration of hemoglobin regardless of CRIS. CRIS alone did not show any significant effect on erythrocyte proliferation and on induction of micronucleated erythrocytes, whereas TBXI markedly inhibited erythrocyte proliferation and induced a significant increase in the incidences of micronucleated erythrocytes, regardless of CRIS. These findings suggest that CRIS does not have a significant impact on radiation-induced detrimental effects on the hematopoietic system in Trp53wt mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Wang
- Research Center for Radiation Protection, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Kaoru Tanaka
- Research Center for Radiation Protection, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Takanori Katsube
- Research Center for Radiation Protection, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Yasuharu Ninomiya
- Research Center for Radiation Protection, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Guillaume Vares
- Research Center for Radiation Protection, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Qiang Liu
- Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300192, PR China
| | - Akinori Morita
- Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima 770-8509, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Nakajima
- Research Center for Radiation Protection, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Mitsuru Nenoi
- Research Center for Radiation Protection, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
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Navigational strategy may be more a matter of environment and experience than gender. LEARNING AND MOTIVATION 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lmot.2013.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Schnörr SJ, Steenbergen PJ, Richardson MK, Champagne DL. Assessment of Thigmotaxis in Larval Zebrafish. NEUROMETHODS 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-61779-597-8_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
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Tegelenbosch RA, Noldus LP, Richardson MK, Ahmad F. Zebrafish embryos and larvae in behavioural assays. BEHAVIOUR 2012. [DOI: 10.1163/1568539x-00003020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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30
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Measuring thigmotaxis in larval zebrafish. Behav Brain Res 2011; 228:367-74. [PMID: 22197677 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2011.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 265] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2011] [Revised: 12/05/2011] [Accepted: 12/11/2011] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
One of the most commonly used behavioral endpoints measured in preclinical studies using rodent models is thigmotaxis (or "wall-hugging"). Thigmotaxis is a well-validated index of anxiety in animals and humans. While assays measuring thigmotaxis in adult zebrafish have been developed, a thigmotaxis assay has not yet been validated in larval zebrafish. Here we present a novel assay for measurement of thigmotaxis in zebrafish larvae that is triggered by a sudden change in illumination (i.e. sudden light-to-darkness transition) and performed in a standard 24-well plate. We show that zebrafish larvae as young as 5 days post fertilization respond to this challenge by engaging in thigmotaxis. Thigmotaxis was significantly attenuated by anxiolytic (diazepam) and significantly enhanced by anxiogenic (caffeine) drugs, thus representing the first validated thigmotaxis assay for larval zebrafish. We also show that exposure to sudden darkness per se may represent an anxiogenic situation for larval zebrafish since less contrasting light-to-darkness transitions (achieved by lowering darkness degrees) significantly decreased thigmotaxis levels in a manner similar to what was achieved with diazepam. These findings suggest that stimuli such as exposure to sudden darkness could be used proficiently to trigger the expression of anxiety-like behaviors in laboratory settings. In sum, this is a versatile protocol allowing testing of both anxiolytic and anxiogenic drugs in a cost-effective manner (only 10 min). This assay is also amenable to medium to high-throughput capacity while constituting a valuable tool for stress and central nervous system research as well as for preclinical drug screening and discovery.
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Ali S, Champagne DL, Spaink HP, Richardson MK. Zebrafish embryos and larvae: a new generation of disease models and drug screens. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 93:115-33. [PMID: 21671352 DOI: 10.1002/bdrc.20206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 171] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Technological innovation has helped the zebrafish embryo gain ground as a disease model and an assay system for drug screening. Here, we review the use of zebrafish embryos and early larvae in applied biomedical research, using selected cases. We look at the use of zebrafish embryos as disease models, taking fetal alcohol syndrome and tuberculosis as examples. We discuss advances in imaging, in culture techniques (including microfluidics), and in drug delivery (including new techniques for the robotic injection of compounds into the egg). The use of zebrafish embryos in early stages of drug safety-screening is discussed. So too are the new behavioral assays that are being adapted from rodent research for use in zebrafish embryos, and which may become relevant in validating the effects of neuroactive compounds such as anxiolytics and antidepressants. Readouts, such as morphological screening and cardiac function, are examined. There are several drawbacks in the zebrafish model. One is its very rapid development, which means that screening with zebrafish is analogous to "screening on a run-away train." Therefore, we argue that zebrafish embryos need to be precisely staged when used in acute assays, so as to ensure a consistent window of developmental exposure. We believe that zebrafish embryo screens can be used in the pre-regulatory phases of drug development, although more validation studies are needed to overcome industry scepticism. Finally, the zebrafish poses no challenge to the position of rodent models: it is complementary to them, especially in early stages of drug research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaukat Ali
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylvius Laboratory, The Netherlands
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32
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The use of the zebrafish model in stress research. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2011; 35:1432-51. [PMID: 20971150 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2010.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2010] [Revised: 10/05/2010] [Accepted: 10/13/2010] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The study of the causes and mechanisms underlying psychiatric disorders requires the use of non-human models for the test of scientific hypotheses as well as for use in pre-clinical drug screening and discovery. This review argues in favor of the use of zebrafish as a novel animal model to study the impact of early (stressful) experiences on the development of differential stress phenotypes in later life. This phenomenon is evolutionary conserved among several vertebrate species and has relevance to the etiology of psychiatric disorders. Why do we need novel animal models? Although significant progress has been achieved with the use of traditional mammalian models, there are major pitfalls associated with their use that impedes progress on two major fronts: 1) uncovering of the molecular mechanisms underlying aspects of compromised (stress-exposed) brain development relevant to the etiology of psychiatric disorders, and 2) ability to develop high-throughput technology for drug discovery in the field of psychiatry. The zebrafish model helps resolve these issues. Here we present a conceptual framework for the use of zebrafish in stress research and psychiatry by addressing three specific domains of application: 1) stress research, 2) human disease mechanisms, and 3) drug discovery. We also present novel methodologies associated with the development of the zebrafish stress model and discuss how such methodologies can contribute to remove the main bottleneck in the field of drug discovery.
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33
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Mamczarz J, Kulkarni GS, Pereira EFR, Albuquerque EX. Galantamine counteracts development of learning impairment in guinea pigs exposed to the organophosphorus poison soman: clinical significance. Neurotoxicology 2011; 32:785-98. [PMID: 21784098 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2011.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2011] [Revised: 06/19/2011] [Accepted: 07/05/2011] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Galantamine, a drug used to treat Alzheimer's disease, protects guinea pigs against the acute toxicity and lethality of organophosphorus (OP) compounds, including soman. Here, we tested the hypothesis that a single exposure of guinea pigs to 1xLD50 soman triggers cognitive impairments that can be counteracted by galantamine. Thus, animals were injected intramuscularly with saline (0.5 ml/kg) or galantamine (8 mg/kg) and 30 min later injected subcutaneously with soman (26.3 μg/kg) or saline. Cognitive performance was analyzed in the Morris water maze (MWM) four days or three months after the soman challenge. Fifty percent of the saline-injected animals that were challenged with soman survived with mild-to-moderate signs of acute toxicity that subsided within a few hours. These animals showed no learning impairment and no memory retention deficit, when training in the MWM started four days post-soman challenge. In contrast, animals presented significant learning impairment when testing started three months post-challenge. Though the magnitude of the impairment correlated with the severity of the acute toxicity, animals that presented no or only mild signs of toxicity were also learning impaired. All guinea pigs that were treated with galantamine survived the soman challenge with no signs of acute toxicity and learned the MWM task as control animals, regardless of when testing began. Galantamine also prevented memory extinction in both saline- and soman-challenged animals. In conclusion, learning impairment develops months after a single exposure to 1xLD50 soman, and galantamine prevents both the acute toxicity and the delayed cognitive deficits triggered by this OP poison.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacek Mamczarz
- Division of Translational Toxicology, Department Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 10 S. Pine St. Suite 900, Baltimore, MD 21210, USA.
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34
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Champagne DL, Hoefnagels CC, de Kloet RE, Richardson MK. Translating rodent behavioral repertoire to zebrafish (Danio rerio): Relevance for stress research. Behav Brain Res 2010; 214:332-42. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2010.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 252] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2010] [Revised: 05/25/2010] [Accepted: 06/01/2010] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Gorini A, Schruers K, Riva G, Griez E. Nonhomogeneous results in place learning among panic disorder patients with agoraphobia. Psychiatry Res 2010; 179:297-305. [PMID: 20569995 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2009.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2009] [Revised: 09/08/2009] [Accepted: 10/15/2009] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Patients affected by panic disorder with agoraphobia (PDA) often suffer from visuo-spatial disturbances. In the present study, we tested the place-learning abilities in a sample of 31 PDA patients compared to 31 healthy controls (CTR) using the computer-generated arena (C-G Arena), a desktop-based computer program developed at the University of Arizona (Jacobs et al 1997, for further detail about the program, see http://web.arizona.edu/~arg/data.html). Subjects were asked to search the computer-generated space, over several trials, for the location of a hidden target. Results showed that control subjects rapidly learned to locate the invisible target and consistently returned to it, while PDA patients were divided in two subgroups: some of them (PDA-A) were as good as controls in place learning, while some others (PDA-B) were unable to learn the correct strategies to find the target. Further analyses revealed that PDA-A patients were significantly younger and affected by panic disorder from less time than PDA-B, indicating that age and duration of illness can be critical factors that influence the place-learning abilities. The existence of two different subgroups of PDA patients who differ in their spatial orientation abilities could provide new insight into the mechanisms of panic and open new perspectives in the cognitive-behavioral treatment of this diffuse and disabling disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Gorini
- Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCSS, Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Laboratory, Milan, Italy.
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36
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Ullrich NJ, Ayr L, Leaffer E, Irons MB, Rey-Casserly C. Pilot study of a novel computerized task to assess spatial learning in children and adolescents with neurofibromatosis type 1. J Child Neurol 2010; 25:1195-202. [PMID: 20139412 DOI: 10.1177/0883073809358454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Difficulties with visual-spatial learning are frequently observed and often considered to be the hallmark of neurocognitive impairment in neurofibromatosis type 1. The computerized Arena Maze is a virtual environment task that has been developed as a human paradigm to the Morris Water Maze, which is used to evaluate spatial learning in animal models. The authors evaluated this task as a measure of spatial learning in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 compared with their unaffected siblings. Affected children were able to learn the task and navigate the virtual environment; however, they performed more poorly on standard measures of spatial learning and spatial working memory than their siblings. The group with neurofibromatosis type 1 demonstrated decreased proficiency in earlier target trials and had more difficulty in remembering target location. This study demonstrates the potential utility of a novel virtual task to assess spatial learning deficits in children with neurofibromatosis type 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole J Ullrich
- Departments of Neurology, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA 02446, USA.
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37
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Active wall following by Mexican blind cavefish (Astyanax mexicanus). J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2010; 196:853-67. [DOI: 10.1007/s00359-010-0567-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2010] [Revised: 06/17/2010] [Accepted: 08/05/2010] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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38
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Schoenfeld R, Moenich N, Mueller FJ, Lehmann W, Leplow B. Search strategies in a human water maze analogue analyzed with automatic classification methods. Behav Brain Res 2010; 208:169-77. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2009.11.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2009] [Revised: 11/10/2009] [Accepted: 11/16/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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39
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Lebreton S, Martin JR. Mutations affecting the cAMP transduction pathway disrupt the centrophobism behavior. J Neurogenet 2010; 23:225-34. [PMID: 19306211 DOI: 10.1080/01677060802509160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Like vertebrates, invertebrates such as Drosophila display complex integrated behaviors that rely on locomotion for their execution. The use of genetic tools combined with sophisticated behavioral analysis has permitted researchers to investigate the brain structures implicated in those complex behaviors, such as locomotor activity. The video-tracking paradigm has allowed the study of multiple parameters of locomotor activity and has revealed that Drosophila exhibits centrophobism, a behavior related to spatial orientation. A structure/function study has demonstrated that the mushroom bodies (MBs) are implicated in this behavior. In the continuity of these former studies, we have investigated the role of the cAMP transduction pathway known to be implicated in olfactory learning and memory within the MBs. Here, we report that disturbing this pathway by using different mutants, such as dnc, rut, PKA, or amn, lead to centrophobism defect. Moreover, we found that the P[GAL4]C316 flies, used to rescue the amn mutant phenotype, like those previously reported for the learning and memory defect, are severely disturbed in centrophobism behavior. Remarkably, those flies are perfectly randomly distributed in the arena, suggesting that C316 flies carry an important mutated-gene implicated in neuronal networks required for proper spatial orientation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Lebreton
- Bases Neurales des Comportements chez la Drosophile Laboratoire de Neurobiologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire (NBCM), CNRS, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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40
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Kállai J, Karádi K, Feldmann A. Anxiety-dependent spatial navigation strategies in virtual and real spaces. Cogn Process 2010; 10 Suppl 2:S229-32. [PMID: 19693574 DOI: 10.1007/s10339-009-0288-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- János Kállai
- Institute of Behavioral Sciences, University of Pécs, Pecs, Hungary.
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41
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Mueller SC, Temple V, Cornwell B, Grillon C, Pine DS, Ernst M. Impaired spatial navigation in pediatric anxiety. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2009; 50:1227-34. [PMID: 19594834 PMCID: PMC2788776 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2009.02112.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous theories implicate hippocampal dysfunction in anxiety disorders. Most of the data supporting these theories stem from animal research, particularly lesion studies. The generalization of findings from rodent models to human function is hampered by fundamental inter-species differences. The present work uses a task of spatial orientation, which is known to rely on hippocampal function. Deficits in spatial navigation in anxious children suggest that the hippocampal network involved in spatial orientation is also implicated in anxiety disorders. METHODS Thirty-four treatment-naive children with an anxiety disorder (mean 11.00 years +/- 2.54) are compared to 35 healthy age- and IQ-matched healthy children (mean 11.95 years +/- 2.36) on a virtual, computer-based equivalent of the Morris Water Maze task. RESULTS Results indicate that children with anxiety disorder exhibit overall impaired performance relative to the comparison group. Anxious children made more heading direction errors and had worse accuracy in completing trials relative to controls. CONCLUSIONS The results present novel evidence that spatial orientation deficits occur in pediatric anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven C. Mueller
- MAP, NIMH, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA,Corresponding author: MAP, NIMH, NIH, 15K North Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA, Phone: +1 -301-402-6955,
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Abstract
Individuals create cognitive maps based on relationships between cues in the environment. Older individuals are often impaired in wayfinding, especially in environments that lack distinctive features. This study examines how working memory ability in older women is related to wayfinding performance in the presence of salient (distinctive, prominent) or nonsalient cues. The degree of salient cue complexity is also examined, thus leading to the hypothesis that salient, complex cues are important in wayfinding and that working memory capacity is related to wayfinding performance. The virtual computer-generated arena is used to test this hypothesis in 20 healthy older women in three different environmental cue conditions varying in salience and complexity. Data analyses indicate that older women perform best in salient cue conditions. A greater working memory capacity is related to improved performance in the nonsalient cue condition. These findings offer preliminary evidence that cue salience is especially important in wayfinding.
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43
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The function of wall-following behaviors in the Mexican blind cavefish and a sighted relative, the Mexican tetra (Astyanax). J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2008; 195:225-40. [DOI: 10.1007/s00359-008-0400-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2008] [Revised: 11/21/2008] [Accepted: 11/23/2008] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Abstract
The Morris water maze is widely used to study spatial memory and learning. Animals are placed in a pool of water that is colored opaque with powdered non-fat milk or non-toxic tempera paint, where they must swim to a hidden escape platform. Because they are in opaque water, the animals cannot see the platform, and cannot rely on scent to find the escape route. Instead, they must rely on external/extra-maze cues. As the animals become more familiar with the task, they are able to find the platform more quickly. Developed by Richard G. Morris in 1984, this paradigm has become one of the "gold standards" of behavioral neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Nunez
- Department of Psychology, Michigan State University,
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45
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Hebb ALO, Robertson HA, Denovan-Wright EM. Phosphodiesterase 10A inhibition is associated with locomotor and cognitive deficits and increased anxiety in mice. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2008; 18:339-63. [PMID: 17913473 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2007.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2007] [Revised: 06/06/2007] [Accepted: 08/22/2007] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) mRNA and protein levels decline in the striatum of R6/1 and R6/2 Huntington's disease (HD) mice prior to motor symptom development. In human HD, PDE10A protein levels are significantly decreased in the caudate-putamen of patients with grade 3 HD compared to age-matched controls. To test whether the loss of PDE10A activity in the striatum was detrimental to normal brain function, we treated wild-type (WT) mice with chronic administration of papaverine, which is a specific inhibitor of PDE10A. At 7 weeks of age, mice were introduced to a weekly battery of motor tests, including assessment of weight, locomotion, gait, and coordination. Beginning at 8 weeks of age, mice received 0, 5, 10 or 20 mg/kg papaverine once daily until the completion of behavioral testing. Following 14 days of papaverine injections, mice were assessed for deficits in cognitive performance as measured in the Morris water maze (MWM). All behavioral tests occurred either immediately prior to or 30 min following a subcutaneous papaverine challenge dose. Twenty-four hours following completion of the 2-3 week MWM protocol, mice were given a dose of papaverine and 30 min later psychological function assessed in the Light-Dark (LD) Test. Chronic administration of papaverine for 42 days was associated with distinct motor perturbations, mild cognitive disturbance and anxiety-like behaviors. Subsequently, we assessed the effect of 14 days papaverine (i.e. sub-chronic) treatment on psychological function of WT and R6/1 HD mice. While sub-chronic papaverine induced anxiety-like behavior in WT mice, it appeared to have little effect on the behavior of R6/1 HD mice. Finally, a separate group of 6-week old WT and R6/2 HD mice were treated for 21 days with saline or 10 mg/kg fluoxetine, an agent with anxiolytic and anti-depressant effects, in order to compare the effects of papaverine and fluoxetine on anxiety-like behavior in the LD test. CREB and PDE10A protein levels in striatum and hippocampus were determined by western blot. While papaverine treatment reduced CREB protein levels in the hippocampus and striatum, fluoxetine increased CREB in the hippocampus. These data suggest that papaverine and fluoxetine may produce quite different effects on behavior; these behaviors may be linked to CREB expression in brain regions associated with motor and cognitive functions. PDE10A protein levels were decreased by both papaverine and fluoxetine. Chronic PDE10A inhibition produced a variety of behavioral and central neurochemical deficits and these effects were exacerbated by stress. The unique localization of PDE10A and its apparent role in basal ganglia function may underlie its role in psychiatric and neurological disorders involving the basal ganglia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea L O Hebb
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
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46
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Peña D, Contreras MJ, Shih PC, Santacreu J. Solution strategies as possible explanations of individual and sex differences in a dynamic spatial task. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2008; 128:1-14. [PMID: 17977506 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2007.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2006] [Revised: 09/04/2007] [Accepted: 09/10/2007] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
When individuals perform spatial tasks, individual differences emerge in accuracy and speed as well as in the response patterns used to cope with the task. The purpose of this study is to identify, through empirical criteria, the different response patterns or strategies used by individuals when performing the dynamic spatial task presented in the Spatial Orientation Dynamic Test-Revised (SODT-R). Results show that participants can be classified according to their response patterns. Three different ways of solving a task are described, and their relation to (a) performance factors (response latency, response frequency, and invested time) and (b) ability tests (analytical reasoning, verbal reasoning, and spatial estimation) are investigated. Sex differences in response patterns and performance are also analyzed. It is found that the frequency with which men and women employ each one of the strategies described here, is different and statistically significant. Thus, employed strategy plays an important role when interpreting sex differences on dynamic spatial tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Peña
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
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47
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Nico D, Piccardi L, Iaria G, Bianchini F, Zompanti L, Guariglia C. Landmark based navigation in brain-damaged patients with neglect. Neuropsychologia 2008; 46:1898-907. [PMID: 18316102 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2008.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2007] [Revised: 12/16/2007] [Accepted: 01/19/2008] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
We tested navigational abilities of brain-damaged patients suffering from representational or perceptual neglect asking them to retrieve a location according to salient spatial cues included in a rectangular empty room. Both groups of patients showed difficulties in learning the spatial definition of the target location in relation to two landmarks. However in a delayed attempt performed after several trials the group of patients with perceptual neglect proved able to easily retrieve the target location. In this condition they performed as controls showing a spared ability to navigate according to a stable representation of the room in long-term memory. In contrast the difficulty of patients with representational neglect remained unchanged across experimental conditions. At variance with clinical assessment, in which patients show asymmetrical performances in describing a well-known environment from memory, this latter result depicts a behavioural counterpart of the disorder, namely the inability to orient in a new environment according to an inner representation. Data are further discussed in order to provide a description of the cognitive mechanisms required for space representation for navigation.
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48
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Piccardi L, Bianchini F, Zompanti L, Guariglia C. Pure representational neglect and navigational deficits in a case with preserved visuo-spatial working memory. Neurocase 2008; 14:329-42. [PMID: 18792838 DOI: 10.1080/13554790802366012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
We describe a patient who, after right hemisphere damage, showed severe, persistent, pure representational neglect but no evidence of perceptual neglect and no deficits in spatial working memory when evaluated with a traditional clinical test (Corsi Block Tapping test). This finding provides evidence against a full explanation of representational neglect within the context of visuo-spatial working memory. Indeed, this patient showed a peculiar deficit in navigational tasks requiring re-orientation in a novel environment by means of his mental representation of the environment. Since no representational neglect was observed in tests requiring mental representation of single or multiple objects (i.e., o'clock test) we suggest that in our patient representational neglect is caused by damage to the cognitive system involved in coding and storing environmental information to be used during navigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Piccardi
- Facoltà di Psicologia, Università degli Studi dell'Aquila, Coppito, Italy.
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49
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Ennaceur A, Michalikova S, Chazot PL. Models of anxiety: responses of rats to novelty in an open space and an enclosed space. Behav Brain Res 2006; 171:26-49. [PMID: 16678277 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2006.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2005] [Revised: 03/06/2006] [Accepted: 03/14/2006] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to novelty has been shown to induce anxiety responses in a variety of behavioural paradigms. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether exposition of naïve rats to novelty would result in a comparable or a different pattern of responses in an open space versus enclosed space with or without the presence of an object in the centre of the field. Lewis and Wistar rats of both genders were used to illustrate and discuss the value and validity of these anxiety paradigms. We examined a wide range of measures, which cover several aspects of animals' responses. The results of this study revealed significant differences between the behaviour of animals in an open space and in the enclosed space. It also revealed significant differences in animal's responses to the presence and absence of an object in the open space and in the enclosed space. In the enclosed space, rats spent most of their time in the outer area with lower number of exits and avoided the object area except when there was an object, while in the open space rats displayed frequent short duration re-entries in the outer area and spent longer time in the object area in presence of an object. The time spent in the inner area (away from the outer area and the object area) was significantly longer and the number of faecal boli was significantly higher in the open space than in the enclosed space. In the present report, we will discuss the fundamental differences between enclosed space and open space models, and we will examine some methodological issues related to the current animal models of human behaviour in anxiety. In the enclosed space, animals can avoid the potential threat associated with the centre area of a box and chose the safety of walls and corners, whereas, in the open space animals have to avoid every parts of the field from which there was no safe escape. The response of animals to novelty in an open space model appears more relevant to anxiety than in an enclosed space. The present studies revealed no correlations between the measures of behaviour in enclosed space and the measures of behaviour in open space, which suggest that these two models do not involve the same construct. Our results suggest that the enclosed space model involves avoidance responses while the open space model involves anxiety responses. The open space model can be very useful in understanding the underlying neural mechanisms of anxiety responses, and in assessing the effects of potential anxiolytic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Ennaceur
- University of Sunderland, Sunderland Pharmacy School, UK.
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50
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Vorhees CV, Williams MT. Morris water maze: procedures for assessing spatial and related forms of learning and memory. Nat Protoc 2006; 1:848-58. [PMID: 17406317 PMCID: PMC2895266 DOI: 10.1038/nprot.2006.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3054] [Impact Index Per Article: 169.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The Morris water maze (MWM) is a test of spatial learning for rodents that relies on distal cues to navigate from start locations around the perimeter of an open swimming arena to locate a submerged escape platform. Spatial learning is assessed across repeated trials and reference memory is determined by preference for the platform area when the platform is absent. Reversal and shift trials enhance the detection of spatial impairments. Trial-dependent, latent and discrimination learning can be assessed using modifications of the basic protocol. Search-to-platform area determines the degree of reliance on spatial versus non-spatial strategies. Cued trials determine whether performance factors that are unrelated to place learning are present. Escape from water is relatively immune from activity or body mass differences, making it ideal for many experimental models. The MWM has proven to be a robust and reliable test that is strongly correlated with hippocampal synaptic plasticity and NMDA receptor function. We present protocols for performing variants of the MWM test, from which results can be obtained from individual animals in as few as 6 days.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles V Vorhees
- Division of Neurology (MLC 7044), Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation and Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039, USA.
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