Source Paper
Orbitofrontal Cortex and Representation of Incentive Value in Associative Learning
Michela Gallagher, Robert W. McMahan, Geoffrey Schoenbaum
Journal of Neuroscience • 1999
Conditioned Response Acquisition
Objective: Investigate the effect of orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) lesions on conditioned responses to a visual stimulus associated with food reinforcement, and test whether OFC-lesioned rats can adjust their responding when the incentive value of the reinforcer is devalued
This is a Conditioned Response Acquisition protocol using rat as the model organism. The procedure involves 3 procedural steps, 4 equipment items, 2 materials. Extracted from a 1999 paper published in Journal of Neuroscience.
Model and subjects
rat • Not specified • unknown • Not specified • Not specified
Study window
Estimated timing pending
Core workflow
Initial Conditioned Response Acquisition Training • Taste Aversion Learning (US Devaluation) • Test for Devaluation in Conditioning Chamber
Primary readouts
- Approach behavior to food cup during visual CS presentation in initial acquisition phase
- Taste aversion learning in response to LiCl injection
- Change in conditioned responding to visual CS after US devaluation
- Comparison of CS-elicited approach behavior between OFC-lesioned rats and control rats following devaluation
Key equipment and reagents
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Protocol Steps
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Initial Conditioned Response Acquisition Training
Rats are trained to associate a visual conditioned stimulus (light) with delivery of food pellets to a food cup. Through repeated pairings, rats learn to approach the food cup during presentation of the visual CS in anticipation of food reinforcement.
Note: This is the first training phase where conditioned responding is acquired
View evidence from paper
“Rats were first trained to associate a visual CS with delivery of food pellets to a food cup. As a consequence of learning, rats approached the food cup during the CS in anticipation of reinforcement”
Taste Aversion Learning (US Devaluation)
In the home cage, rats consume food pellets followed by injection of lithium chloride (LiCl). This procedure creates a taste aversion and alters the incentive value of the food US, making it less desirable.
Note: This is the second training phase designed to devalue the unconditioned stimulus
View evidence from paper
“In a second training phase, injection of LiCl followed consumption of the food unconditioned stimulus (US) in the home cage, a procedure used to alter the incentive value of the US”
Test for Devaluation in Conditioning Chamber
Rats are returned to the conditioning chamber and tested for their responding to the visual CS in the absence of the food US. Approach behavior to the food cup during CS presentation is measured to determine if rats adjust their conditioned responding based on the devalued incentive value of the reinforcer.
Note: This test reveals whether the CS can access representational information about the incentive value of the associated reinforcement
View evidence from paper
“Subsequently, rats were returned to the conditioning chamber, and their responding to the CS in the absence of the food US was tested”