Cross-Maze Place-Response Learning
Objective: To investigate the role of prelimbic-infralimbic areas in behavioral flexibility by examining place and response learning discriminations and shifts in a cross-maze with tetracaine inactivation
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Materials1
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Protocol Steps
Surgical implantation of bilateral cannulae
All rats received bilateral cannula implants aimed at the prelimbic-infralimbic areas
Note: Cannulae positioned for subsequent infusions into prelimbic-infralimbic regions
View evidence from paper
“All rats received a bilateral cannula implant aimed at the prelimbic-infralimbic areas”
Place and response discrimination testing
Rats were tested on place and response discriminations in a cross-maze. Some rats were tested on place version first followed by response version; other rats had the procedure reversed
Note: Two counterbalanced testing orders to control for sequence effects
View evidence from paper
“Some rats were tested on the place version first followed by the response version. The procedure for the other rats was reversed”
Tetracaine infusion during cross-modal shift testing
Infusions of 2% tetracaine into prelimbic-infralimbic areas administered when rats were switched from one discrimination to the other (cross-modal shift)
Note: Cross-modal shift involves switching between place and response discriminations
View evidence from paper
“Infusions of 2% tetracaine into the prelimbic-infralimbic areas did not impair acquisition of the place or response discriminations. Prelimbic-infralimbic inactivation did impair learning when rats were switched from one discrimination to the other (cross-modal shift)”
Intramodal shift testing (reversal learning)
One group of rats tested on place reversal and another group tested on response reversal to investigate role of prelimbic-infralimbic areas in intramodal shifts
Note: Intramodal shifts involve reversing the correct response within the same discrimination type
View evidence from paper
“To investigate the role of the prelimbic-infralimbic areas in intramodal shifts (reversal learning), one group of rats was tested on a place reversal and another group tested on a response reversal”
Transfer testing in new environment
Rats that completed testing on a particular version in cross-modal and intramodal experiments were tested on the same version in a new room
Note: Transfer tests reveal whether rats use spatial strategy (place version) or egocentric response strategy (response version)
View evidence from paper
“Some rats that completed testing on a particular version in the cross-modal and intramodal experiments were tested on the same version in a new room for 3 d”