Cross-Modal Shift Task
Objective: To investigate the role of prelimbic-infralimbic areas in behavioral flexibility by testing rats' ability to shift between place discrimination and response discrimination strategies in a cross-modal shift task
Gather these items before starting the experiment. Check off items as you prepare.
Equipment2
Materials1
Not specified • Not specified • Not specified • Not specified
1 item available from ConductScience
Estimated: $601.00
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Product links help support this free resource.
Protocol Steps
Surgical implantation
All rats received bilateral cannula implants aimed at the prelimbic-infralimbic areas
Note: Surgical procedure performed prior to behavioral testing
View evidence from paper
“All rats received a bilateral cannula implant aimed at the prelimbic-infralimbic areas”
Cross-modal shift task - Group 1
Rats tested on place discrimination first, followed by response discrimination in a cross-maze
Note: Some rats received this order of testing
View evidence from paper
“Some rats were tested on the place version first followed by the response version”
Cross-modal shift task - Group 2
Rats tested on response discrimination first, followed by place discrimination in a cross-maze
Note: Other rats received the reversed order of testing
View evidence from paper
“The procedure for the other rats was reversed”
Drug infusion during cross-modal shift
2% tetracaine infused into prelimbic-infralimbic areas during cross-modal shift testing to assess impact on learning when switching between discrimination types
Note: Infusions tested during the transition from one discrimination to the other
View evidence from paper
“Prelimbic-infralimbic inactivation did impair learning when rats were switched from one discrimination to the other (cross-modal shift)”
Intramodal shift testing - Place reversal
One group of rats tested on place reversal learning to investigate role of prelimbic-infralimbic areas in intramodal shifts
Note: Separate group from cross-modal shift testing
View evidence from paper
“one group of rats was tested on a place reversal and another group tested on a response reversal”
Intramodal shift testing - Response reversal
Another group of rats tested on response reversal learning to investigate role of prelimbic-infralimbic areas in intramodal shifts
Note: Separate group from cross-modal shift testing
View evidence from paper
“one group of rats was tested on a place reversal and another group tested on a response reversal”
Transfer test
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 revealed whether rats use spatial strategy on place version or egocentric response strategy on 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”