Operant Reaction-Time Task
Objective: To examine reaction-time performance in rats trained on an operant task and assess the effects of dopaminergic system impairment on motor function
Protocol Steps
Rat training on operant reaction-time task
Rats were trained to press a lever and release it as quickly as possible after presentation of a light-cue conditioned stimulus
Note: Training period duration not specified in text
View evidence from paper
“Rats were trained to press a lever and release it as quickly as possible after a light-cue conditioned stimulus (CS)”
Baseline reaction-time measurement
Reaction time was measured from the conditioned stimulus (light cue) to the release of the lever for each trial
Note: Baseline performance established before pharmacological or lesion interventions
View evidence from paper
“Reaction time was measured from the CS to the release of the lever for each trial”
Systemic administration of alpha-flupenthixol
alpha-Flupenthixol was injected intraperitoneally at doses of 0.2 and 0.4 mg/kg to block dopamine receptors
Note: Two dose levels tested
View evidence from paper
“alpha-Flupenthixol (0.2 and 0.4 mg/kg) injected intraperitoneally impaired the reaction-time performance of the rats”
6-hydroxydopamine lesion of nucleus accumbens
6-hydroxydopamine was perfused into the nucleus accumbens to selectively destroy dopamine neurons in this region
Note: Disruption of dopamine activity in nucleus accumbens did not affect reaction-time performance
View evidence from paper
“specific destruction of dopamine neurons by 6-hydroxydopamine perfusion into the nucleus accumbens or caudate nucleus”
6-hydroxydopamine lesion of caudate nucleus
6-hydroxydopamine was perfused into the caudate nucleus to selectively destroy dopamine terminals of the nigrostriatal pathway
Note: Resulted in 59% decrease in posterior striatal dopamine and significantly impaired reaction-time performance
View evidence from paper
“lesions of the dopamine terminals of the nigrostriatal pathway in the corpus striatum (59% decrease in posterior striatal dopamine) significantly impaired reaction-time performance”
Post-intervention reaction-time measurement
Reaction-time performance was measured following pharmacological or lesion interventions to assess changes from baseline
Note: Performance compared between control and treatment conditions
View evidence from paper
“the performance of rats trained in an operant reaction-time task was examined after systemic administration of a dopamine-receptor antagonist”