Source Paper
Ventral pallidum GABA neuron inhibition augments context-appropriate defensive responses to learned threat cues
Ramirez EM, Martinez MX, Rokerya RK, Vera VA, Ruiz CM et al.
Neurobiol Stress • 2026
Shock Probe Fear Acquisition Test
Objective: To test effects of VP GABA inhibition on acquisition of shock probe fear learning
This is a Shock Probe Fear Acquisition Test protocol using Rat as the model organism. The procedure involves 5 procedural steps, 3 equipment items, 4 materials. Extracted from a 2026 paper published in Neurobiol Stress.
Model and subjects
Rat • Long Evans GAD1:Cre and wildtype littermates • Male and female • 75+ days old • 28
Study window
~2 day study window | ~1.3 hours hands-on
Core workflow
Habituation • Drug injection • Chamber setup
Primary readouts
- Defensive burying behaviors
- Treading/digging behavior
Key equipment and reagents
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Protocol Steps
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Habituation
Habituate rats to the testing chamber for 30 minutes on two consecutive days
View evidence from paper
“Rats were first habituated for 30min on two days to a specific plexiglass tub cage”
Drug injection
Inject rats with either VEH or CNO 30 minutes prior to testing
View evidence from paper
“rats received either VEH or CNO injections prior to a shock probe fear acquisition session”
Chamber setup
Place copper-wrapped probe through hole in wall, 8 cm above cage floor, connected to shocker
View evidence from paper
“copper-wrapped plastic probe inserted through a 1 cm diameter hole in the wall located 8 cm above the cage floor”
Shock probe acquisition session
Place rat at opposite end from probe, deliver 1.5 mA shock when touched, continue for 20 minutes after first shock
View evidence from paper
“Rats were placed in the opposite end of the cage from the shock probe, and the shock probe acquisition session continued for 20min after the first rat-initiated shock”
Expression test
48 hours later, test rats with inactive probe for 20 minutes without injections
View evidence from paper
“48hrs later, these rats were returned to the chamber with the now-inactive probe, without further injections, for a 20min shock probe fear expression test”