Source Paper
The role of amygdala nuclei in the expression of auditory signaled two-way active avoidance in rats
June-Seek Choi, Christopher K. Cain, Joseph E. LeDoux
Learning & Memory • 2010
Two-Way Signaled Active Avoidance
Objective: To test the contributions of amygdala nuclei (lateral, basal, and central) to the expression of instrumental active avoidance conditioned responses using a two-way signaled active avoidance learning procedure
This is a Two-Way Signaled Active Avoidance protocol using rat as the model organism. The procedure involves 5 procedural steps, 1 equipment items, 1 materials. Extracted from a 2010 paper published in Learning & Memory.
Model and subjects
rat • Not specified • unknown • Not specified • Not specified
Study window
~3 day study window
Core workflow
Two-way signaled active avoidance training • Discrete or combined lesions of lateral and basal amygdala • Central amygdala lesions
Primary readouts
- Conditioned response (CR) performance in avoidance task
- Avoidance learning acquisition
- Effects of amygdala nuclei lesions on instrumental avoidance responses
- Rescue of avoidance learning following central amygdala lesions
Key equipment and reagents
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Protocol Steps
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Two-way signaled active avoidance training
Rats were trained in a shuttle box to avoid footshock signaled by an auditory stimulus. Training continued until rats reached asymptotic level of avoidance performance.
Note: This is the baseline training phase before lesion procedures
View evidence from paper
“rats were trained in a shuttle box to avoid a footshock signaled by an auditory stimulus”
Discrete or combined lesions of lateral and basal amygdala
Discrete or combined lesions of the lateral (LA) and basal (B) nuclei were performed after rats had reached asymptotic level of avoidance performance
Note: Lesions performed post-training at asymptotic performance level
View evidence from paper
“Discrete or combined lesions of the LA and B, performed after the rats had reached an asymptotic level of avoidance performance”
Central amygdala lesions
Electrolytic lesions of the central (CE) nucleus were performed on a subgroup of animals that failed to acquire the avoidance CR after 3 days of training
Note: Bilateral electrolytic lesions performed on non-learners
View evidence from paper
“bilateral electrolytic lesions of the CE were performed on a subgroup of animals that failed to acquire the avoidance CR after 3 d of training”
Fiber-sparing excitotoxic lesions of LA/B
Fiber-sparing excitotoxic lesions of the lateral and basal amygdala produced by infusions of NMDA to confirm neuronal involvement
Note: Used to confirm that neurons in LA/B mediate avoidance CRs
View evidence from paper
“Fiber-sparing excitotoxic lesions of the LA/B produced by infusions of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) also impaired avoidance performance”
Assessment of avoidance performance
Measurement of conditioned responses (CRs) and avoidance learning following lesion procedures
Note: Deficits in CR were measured; CE lesions led to immediate rescue of avoidance learning in non-learners
View evidence from paper
“Discrete or combined lesions of the LA and B produced deficits in the CR, whereas CE lesions had minimal effect”