Spatial Reversal Learning
Objective: To determine whether Arc expression differs from c-fos and zif268 after spatial reversal learning, and to examine if Arc RNA levels correlate with learning of hippocampal-dependent spatial tasks versus hippocampal-independent cued response tasks
This is a Spatial Reversal Learning protocol using rat as the model organism. The procedure involves 6 procedural steps, 1 equipment items, 1 materials. Extracted from a 2001 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 spatial task training • Spatial reversal learning • Cued response water task training
Primary readouts
- Arc RNA expression levels in hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, and primary visual cortex
- c-fos RNA expression levels in hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, and primary visual cortex
- zif268 RNA expression levels in hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, and primary visual cortex
- Correlation of Arc RNA levels with spatial learning performance
Key equipment and reagents
Use this page as an execution guide, then fall back to the source paper whenever you need exact exclusions, dosing details, or assay-specific caveats.
Confirm first
- Verify the animal model, intervention setup, and collection timepoints against the source paper.
- Check that every direct vendor link matches the exact specification your lab plans to run.
Use the page like this
- Work through the protocol steps in order and use the inline vendor chips only when you need to source or verify an item.
- Jump to Experimental Context for readouts, data shape, and analysis flow before planning downstream analysis.
Protocol Steps
Start here. The step list is optimized for running the experiment, with direct vendor links available inline when you need to source a cited item.
Initial spatial task training
Rats were trained on an initial spatial water task until asymptotic performance was achieved
Note: This is a hippocampal-dependent task
View evidence from paper
“Rats underwent spatial reversal learning trials following asymptotic performance on the initial spatial task”
Spatial reversal learning
Following asymptotic performance on the initial spatial task, rats underwent spatial reversal learning trials where the location of the goal was reversed
Note: Arc RNA levels in hippocampus and entorhinal cortex increased after spatial reversal learning relative to asymptotic performance group
View evidence from paper
“Arc RNA levels in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex increased after spatial reversal learning relative to an asymptotic performance group”
Cued response water task training
Rats were trained on a hippocampal-independent cued response water task as a control condition
Note: This is a hippocampal-independent task used for comparison
View evidence from paper
“IEG RNA levels from rats trained in spatial and nonspatial water tasks were determined using RNase protection assays”
Brain tissue collection
Brain tissue was collected from trained rats for gene expression analysis
Note: Tissue was analyzed from hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, and primary visual cortex
View evidence from paper
“IEG RNA levels were positively correlated within a structure”
RNase protection assay
RNA was extracted and analyzed using RNase protection assays to measure Arc, c-fos, and zif268 expression levels
Note: Measured immediate-early gene RNA levels
View evidence from paper
“IEG RNA levels from rats trained in spatial and nonspatial water tasks were determined using RNase protection assays and in situ hybridization”
In situ hybridization
In situ hybridization was performed to localize and visualize Arc, c-fos, and zif268 expression in brain tissue sections
Note: Complementary method to RNase protection assays
View evidence from paper
“IEG RNA levels from rats trained in spatial and nonspatial water tasks were determined using RNase protection assays and in situ hybridization”