Abstract
This paper presents a novel rodent avoidance test. We have developed a specialized device and procedures that expand the possibilities for exploration of the processes of learning and memory in a psychophysiological experiment. The device consists of a current stimulating electrode-platform and custom software that allows to control and record real-time experimental protocols as well as reconstructs animal movement paths. The device can be used to carry out typical footshock-avoidance tests, such as passive, active, modified active and pedal-press avoidance tasks. It can also be utilized in the studies of prosocial behavior, including cooperation, competition, emotional contagion and empathy. This novel footshock-avoidance test procedure allows flexible current-stimulating settings. In our work, we have used slow-rising current. A test animal can choose between the current rise and time-out intervals as a signal for action in footshock avoidable tasks. This represents a choice between escape and avoidance. This method can be used to explore individual differences in decision-making and choice of avoidance strategies. It has been shown previously that a behavioral act, for example, pedal-pressing is ensured by motivation-dependent brain activity (avoidance or approach). We have created an experimental design based on tasks of instrumental learning: pedal-pressing in an operant box results in a reward, which is either a piece of food in a feeder (food-acquisition behavior) or an escape-platform (footshock-avoidance behavior). Data recording and analysis were performed using custom software, the open source Accord.NET Framework was used for real-time object detection and tracking.
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Acknowledgments
This research was performed in the framework of the state assignment of Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia (No. 0159-2019-0001 by Institute of Psychology RAS - learning procedures; No. 0149-2019-0011 by Shirshov Institute of Oceanology RAS - designed device).
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Bulava, A.I., Volkov, S.V., Alexandrov, Y.I. (2020). A Novel Avoidance Test Setup: Device and Exemplary Tasks. In: Kryzhanovsky, B., Dunin-Barkowski, W., Redko, V., Tiumentsev, Y. (eds) Advances in Neural Computation, Machine Learning, and Cognitive Research III. NEUROINFORMATICS 2019. Studies in Computational Intelligence, vol 856. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30425-6_18
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30425-6_18
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