Novel Method to Assess Group Dynamics in Rats Reveals Deficits in Behavioral Contagion in KM Rats

Published: Oct. 2, 2024

Behavioral copying is a key process in group actions, but it challenging for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We investigated behavioral contagion, or instinctual replication of behaviors, Krushinky-Molodkina (KM) rats (n=16), new rodent model ASD, compared to control Wistar (n=15). A randomly chosen healthy male (“demonstrator rat”) was introduced the homecage experimental (“observers”) 10-14 days before experiments become member group. For implementation contagion experiment, we used IntelliCage system, where can live 5-6 and their water visits be fully controlled. During demonstrator taken out 24 hours deprivation then placed back. As result, drinking behavior water-deprived rat prompted activated behaviors whole Unlike controls, KM observers showed fewer bottles, particularly lacking inspection visits. The group, contrast, exhibited dynamic, cascade-like visiting corners. proportion significantly lower, as ones, they did not mimic other observer rats. rats, therefore, displayed an attenuated pattern highlighting social deficits this ASD model. This study suggests that measuring dynamics automated, non-invasive setup offers valuable insights into rodents, studying models.

Language: Английский

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Modifying reaction time tasks parameters in the automated IntelliCage identifies heightened impulsivity and impaired attention in the 3xTg-AD model of Alzheimer’s disease

Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 16

Published: Dec. 18, 2024

The 3xTg-AD transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an important tool to investigate the relationship between development pathological amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau, neuroinflammation, cognitive impairments. Traditional behavioral tasks assessing aspects learning memory, such as mazes requiring spatial navigation, unfortunately suffer from several shortcomings, including stress human handling not probing species-typical behavior. automated IntelliCage system was developed circumvent issues by testing mice in a social environment while measuring multiple cognition. Water consumption can serve primary motivator for task engagement. Once animals adapt cage access water, be subjected operant tasks. Each four corners contains doors manipulate visual LED cues, valve allowing administration air puff. Previously, we detected significant impairments IntelliCage, however high failure rate genotypical differences water motivation were observed.

Language: Английский

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Novel automated method to assess group dynamics reveals deficits in behavioral contagion in rats with social deficits

Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 18

Published: Dec. 18, 2024

Behavioral copying is a key process in group actions, but it challenging for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We investigated behavioral contagion, or instinctual replication of behaviors, Krushinky-Molodkina (KM) rats (

Language: Английский

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Refinement of IntelliCage protocols for complex cognitive tasks through replacement of drinking restrictions by incentive-disincentive paradigms

Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 17

Published: Nov. 16, 2023

The IntelliCage allows automated testing of cognitive abilities mice in a social home cage environment without handling by human experimenters. Restricted water access combination with protocols which only correct responses give to is reliable learning motivator for hippocampus-dependent tasks assessing spatial memory and executive function. However, restriction may negatively impact on animal welfare, especially poor learners. To better comply the 3R principles, we previously tested was freely available but additional sweetened could be obtained task rule. While this purely appetitive motivation worked simple tasks, too many lost interest sweet reward during more difficult tasks. In present study, battery increasingly still rule, rendered less attractive either adding bitter tasting quinine or increasing amount work obtain it. As previous protocols, rule provided saccharin. two approaches dual were cohorts female C57BL/6 N mice. Compared motivation, both novel strongly improved engagement increased performance. Importantly, neither added disincentives had an adverse liquid consumption, health status body weight animals. Our results show that it possible refine test so they challenge functions restricting water.

Language: Английский

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Appetitively motivated tasks in the IntelliCage reveal a higher motivational cost of spatial learning in male than female mice

Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 18

Published: Feb. 29, 2024

The IntelliCage (IC) permits the assessment of behavior and learning abilities mice in a social home cage context. To overcome water deprivation as an aversive driver learning, we developed protocols which spatial is motivated appetitively by preference for sweetened over plain water. While available at all times, only correct task responses give access to rewards. Under these conditions, C57BL/6J successfully mastered corner with reversal also learned more difficult time-place reversal. However, rate responding decreased strongly increasing difficulty, indicating that challenges reduced success obtaining rewards motivation animals seek both sexes showed similar initial taste preferences similarly well simple tasks, performance dropped rapidly male than female response challenges. Taken together, our data indicate can have disadvantage relative females mastering difficult, likely due sex differences value-based decision-making.

Language: Английский

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Novel method to assess group dynamics in rats reveals deficits in behavioral contagion in KM rats

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Sept. 2, 2024

Abstract Behavioral copying is a key process in group actions, but it challenging for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We investigated behavioral contagion, or instinctual replication of behaviors, Krushinky-Molodkina (KM) rats (n=16), new rodent model ASD, compared to control Wistar (n=15). A randomly chosen healthy male (“demonstrator rat”) was introduced the homecage experimental (“observers”) 10-14 days before experiments become member group. For implementation contagion experiment, we used IntelliCage system, where can live 5-6 and their water visits be fully controlled. During demonstrator taken out 24 hours deprivation then placed back. As result, drinking behavior water-deprived rat prompted activated behaviors whole Unlike controls, KM observers showed fewer bottles, particularly lacking inspection visits. The group, contrast, exhibited dynamic, cascade-like visiting corners. proportion significantly lower, as ones, they did not mimic other observer rats. rats, therefore, displayed an attenuated pattern highlighting social deficits this ASD model. This study suggests that measuring dynamics automated, non-invasive setup offers valuable insights into rodents, studying models. Highlights Thirsty demonstrators triggered avalanche observers’ corners contaged test provides tool objective, automated phenotyping models

Language: Английский

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Mechanistic insights into Quetiapine’s Protective effects on cognitive function and synaptic plasticity in epileptic rats

Brain Research, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 1850, P. 149426 - 149426

Published: Dec. 25, 2024

Language: Английский

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