A self-initiated cue-reward learning procedure for neural recording in rodents.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Single-unit recording in Pavlovian conditioning tasks requires the use of within-subject designs as well as sampling a considerable number of trials per trial type and session, which increases the total trial count. Pavlovian conditioning, on the other hand, requires a long average intertrial interval (ITI) relative to cue duration for cue-specific learning to occur. These requirements combined can make the session duration unfeasibly long.

New method

To circumvent this issue, we developed a self-initiated variant of the Pavlovian magazine-approach procedure in rodents. Unlike the standard procedure, where the animals passively receive the trials, the self-initiated procedure grants animals agency to self-administer and self-pace trials from a predetermined, pseud

SUBMITTER: Reverte I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7214222 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature