Minimal cross-trial generalization in learning the representation of an odor-guided choice task.

ABSTRACT: There is no single way to represent a task. Indeed, despite experiencing the same task events and contingencies, different subjects may form distinct task representations. As experimenters, we often assume that subjects represent the task as we envision it. However, such a representation cannot be taken for granted, especially in animal experiments where we cannot deliver explicit instruction regarding the structure of the task. Here, we tested how rats represent an odor-guided choice task in which two odor cues indicated which of two responses would lead to reward, whereas a third odor indicated free choice among the two responses. A parsimonious task representation would allow animals to learn from the forced trials what is the better option to choose in the free-choice trials. However,

SUBMITTER: Song M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8986096 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature