A novel variable delay Go/No-Go task to study attention, motivation and working memory in the head-fixed rodent.

ABSTRACT: In order to parse the causal elements underlying complex behaviors and decision-making processes, appropriate behavioral methods must be developed and used in concurrence with molecular, pharmacological, and electrophysiological approaches. Presented is a protocol for a novel Go/No-Go behavioral paradigm to study the brain attention and motivation/reward circuitry in awake, head-restrained rodents. This experimental setup allows: (1) Pharmacological and viral manipulation of various brain regions via targeted guide cannula; (2) Optogenetic cell-type specific activation and silencing with simultaneous electrophysiological recording and; (3) Repeated electrophysiological single and multiple unit recordings during ongoing behavior. The task consists of three components. The subject first make

SUBMITTER: Dolzani SD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3976106 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature