Source Paper
From Struggling (With) Screening Tests to Mouse Models of Depression‐Relevant Neurobehavioral States
Pryce CR
Curr Protoc • 2026
Specific Learned Aversion Uncontrollability Paradigm
Objective: To demonstrate that rodents can learn when a specific aversive environment is controllable or uncontrollable, measuring specific learned aversion uncontrollability
This is a Specific Learned Aversion Uncontrollability Paradigm protocol using Mice as the model organism. The procedure involves 6 procedural steps, 2 equipment items, 2 materials. Extracted from a 2026 paper published in Curr Protoc.
Model and subjects
Mice • Not specified • Males • Not specified • 17
Study window
Estimated timing pending
Core workflow
Subject assignment • Pre-exposure phase - Session 1 • Pre-exposure phase - Session 2
Primary readouts
- Number of escape responses during pre-exposure sessions
- Number of escape responses during test session
- Escape latencies used to determine shock duration for IS mice
Key equipment and reagents
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Protocol Steps
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Subject assignment
Assign littermate pairs with one mouse to escapable shock (ES) group and one to inescapable shock (IS) group
View evidence from paper
“In littermate pairs of males (n = 17), one littermate was assigned to ES and the other to IS”
Pre-exposure phase - Session 1
Conduct first daily pre-exposure session with escapable shocks for ES mice and yoked inescapable shocks for IS mice
View evidence from paper
“They underwent three daily pre-exposure sessions, in which ES mice received escapable e-shocks”
Pre-exposure phase - Session 2
Conduct second pre-exposure session with 30 trials of 0.15 mA × 5 sec maximum shocks
View evidence from paper
“Pre-exposure session 2: in 30 trials of 0.15 mA × 5 sec maximum”
Pre-exposure phase - Session 3
Conduct third pre-exposure session with 24 trials of 0.15 mA × 4 sec maximum shocks
View evidence from paper
“Pre-exposure session 3: in 24 trials of 0.15 mA × 4 sec maximum”
Escape test phase
Test both ES and IS mice with 24 trials of escapable 0.15 mA × 4 sec maximum shocks
View evidence from paper
“Escape test: in 24 trials of 0.15 mA × 4 sec maximum, number of transfers by ES and IS mice”
Escape response definition
Define escape as transfer under central divider with head crossing beyond first 70% of opposite compartment
View evidence from paper
“transfer under the central divider and crossing with the head beyond the first 70% of the left compartment constitutes an escape response”