T-Maze Reward-Searching Task
Objective: To examine ensemble activity patterns in the ventral striatum during a reward-searching task on a T-maze and subsequent sleep/rest periods, and to investigate the relationship between ventral striatal firing patterns and hippocampal ripples
This is a T-Maze Reward-Searching Task protocol using Not explicitly stated in provided text as the model organism. The procedure involves 4 procedural steps, 3 equipment items. Extracted from a 2004 paper published in Journal of Neuroscience.
Model and subjects
Not explicitly stated in provided text • Not explicitly stated in provided text • unknown • Not explicitly stated in provided text • Not explicitly stated in provided text
Study window
~2 hours hands-on
Core workflow
Pre-task sleep/rest period • T-maze reward-searching task • Post-behavioral sleep period
Primary readouts
- Ensemble activity pattern reactivation in ventral striatum during sleep and rest
- Firing rate modulation in temporal association with hippocampal ripples
- Pattern recurrence across post-behavioral periods
- Comparison of reactivation between ripple-modulated and non-modulated neurons
Key equipment and reagents
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Protocol Steps
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Pre-task sleep/rest period
Animals undergo an initial sleep or rest period prior to behavioral task
Note: This period serves as baseline before task execution
View evidence from paper
“During a reward-searching task on a T-maze, flanked by sleep and rest periods”
T-maze reward-searching task
Animals perform a reward-searching behavioral task on a T-maze while parallel recordings are made from ventral striatal ensembles and EEG signals are derived from hippocampus
Note: Parallel recordings from ventral striatal ensembles and hippocampal EEG are conducted simultaneously during task
View evidence from paper
“During a reward-searching task on a T-maze, flanked by sleep and rest periods, parallel recordings were made from ventral striatal ensembles while EEG signals were derived from the hippocampus”
Post-behavioral sleep period
Animals undergo sleep period following task completion for analysis of reactivation patterns
Note: Reactivation was especially prominent during post-behavioral slow-wave sleep
View evidence from paper
“reactivation was especially prominent during post-behavioral slow-wave sleep, but unlike the hippocampus, no decay in pattern recurrence was visible in the ventral striatum across the first 40 min of post-behavioral rest”
Post-behavioral rest period
Animals undergo rest period following task completion for analysis of reactivation patterns
Note: Unlike hippocampus, no decay in pattern recurrence was visible in ventral striatum across first 40 minutes
View evidence from paper
“no decay in pattern recurrence was visible in the ventral striatum across the first 40 min of post-behavioral rest”