Search results for "SPATIAL LEARNING"
showing 6 items of 26 documents
Rapid learning of a spatial memory task in a lacertid lizard (Podarcis liolepis).
2018
Abstract Mammals and birds are capable of navigating to a goal using learned map-like representations of space (i.e. place learning), but research assessing this navigational strategy in reptiles has produced inconclusive results, in part due to the use of procedures that do not take account of the peculiarities of reptilian behavior and physiology. Here I present a procedure suitable for testing spatial cognition that exploits a naturally evolved, ethologically relevant ability common to many lizards (i.e. refuge seeking behavior). The procedure requires lizards to learn the location of an open refuge inside a rectangular arena containing artificial refuges in every corner, using distal ex…
Effects of lobeline on spatial learning in C57BL mice
2000
In the present study, the effect of lobeline on water maze performance in C57BL/6J mice have been evaluated. In the first experiment, subjects were 2-month old mice to which lobeline (3.5 and 7 mg/kg) had been administered SC along 5 days 15 min before daily training in the water maze. Results showed that lobeline did not have effects on the acquisition of the task. In the second experiment, effects of lobeline were compared in 2, 6 and 20-month old mice. In this experiment the drug was administered daily five days prior to the beginning of the task and during the five days of acquisition. Results indicated that 20-month old mice learned the spatial task more slowly than 2 and 6-month old m…
Prenatal Exposure to Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Affects Hippocampus-Related Cognitive Functions in the Adolescent Rat Offspring: Focus on Specific Marke…
2023
Previous evidence suggests that prenatal exposure to THC (pTHC) derails the neurodevelopmental trajectories towards a vulnerable phenotype for impaired emotional regulation and limbic memory. Here we aimed to investigate pTHC effect on hippocampus-related cognitive functions and markers of neuroplasticity in adolescent male offspring. Wistar rats were exposed to THC (2 mg/kg) from gestational day 5 to 20 and tested for spatial memory, object recognition memory and reversal learning in the reinforce-motivated Can test and in the aversion-driven Barnes maze test; locomotor activity and exploration, anxiety-like behaviour, and response to natural reward were assessed in the open field, elevate…
Rats with elevated genetic risk for metabolic syndrome exhibit cognitive deficiencies when young
2021
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a known risk factor for cognitive decline. Using polygenic rat models selectively bred for high and low intrinsic exercise capacity and simultaneously modelling as low and high innate risk factor for MetS respectively, we have previously shown that adult animals with lower exercise capacity/higher MetS risk perform poorly in tasks requiring flexible cognition. However, it is not known whether these deficits in cognition are present already at young age. Also, it is unclear whether the high risk genome is related also to lower-level cognition, such as sensory gating measured as prepulse inhibition. In this study, young and adult (5-8 weeks and ∼9 months) rats sel…
Data from: Learning outdoors: Male lizards show flexible spatial learning under semi-natural conditions
2013
Spatial cognition is predicted to be a fundamental component of fitness in many lizard species, and yet some studies suggest that it is relatively slow and inflexible. However, such claims are based on work conducted using experimental designs or in artificial contexts that may underestimate their cognitive abilities. We used a biologically realistic experimental procedure (using simulated predatory attacks) to study spatial learning and its flexibility in the lizard Eulamprus quoyii in semi-natural outdoor enclosures under similar conditions to those experienced by lizards in the wild. To evaluate the flexibility of spatial learning, we conducted a reversal spatial-learning task in which p…
Sex differences in OF1 mice's learning of the Hebb-Williams Maze
2017
El Laberinto Hebb-Williams es una prueba utilizada para evaluar el aprendizaje espacial en animales. Aunque la capacidad espacial es una función cognitiva considerada sexodimórfica, donde los machos muestran una ventaja frente a las hembras, los resultados de los pocos estudios que evalúen diferencias de sexo en esta prueba no son concluyentes. Por ello, en este estudio nos propusimos comprobar si los ratones OF1 machos ejecutaban mejor que las hembras las tareas del Laberinto Hebb-Williams, y si esa ventaja era independiente de la dificultad del laberinto. Se utilizó la versión reducida para ratones, la cual consta de 5 laberintos, 3 considerados fáciles y 2 difíciles. Los resultados en ge…