Continuous reversal using internal or external cues: A novel test measuring set shifting in Parkinsonian rats

Authors : Thibaut SESIA, Rob HAMELEERS, Rinske VLAMINGS, Eva WOLBERT, Süleyman KAPLAN, Arjan BLOKLAND, Yasin TEMEL

Pages : 183-186

Doi:10.5835/jecm.omu.29.03.005

View : 36 | Download : 6

Publication Date : 2012-10-22

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Parkinson’s disease insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(PD); is a predominant movement disorder, but profound cognitive deficits insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(e.g. bradyphrenia, memory, and set shifting); also occur. To model the deficits in set shifting using internal and external cues in rats we developed a continuous reversal task in which the active lever, left or right lever, alternated after a variable number of lever presses. In one task the active lever was signaled by a light insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(external cue condition, EC); whereas in the other task the active lever was not signaled insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(internal cue condition, IC);. In this study we evaluated the effects of a partial bilateral striatal 6-OHDA lesion as model for PD on the performance in both tasks. Following behavioral testing the lesions were verified using tyrosine hydroxylase insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(TH); immunohistochemistry. The 6-OHDA lesioned animals were specifically impaired in the IC condition and not in the EC task. In other words, the lesioned animals kept pressing a lever longer although it was not longer active. The present response switching task is sensitive to 6-OHDA lesions and may mimic set-shifting deficits in PD.
Keywords : Set shifting, Continuous reversal, 6 OHDA lesion, Parkinsons disease

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