ERIC Number: EJ767960
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004-Nov
Pages: 4
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1072-0502
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Available Date: N/A
Demonstration of Nondeclarative Sequence Learning in Mice: Development of an Animal Analog of the Human Serial Reaction Time Task
Christie, Michael A.; Hersch, Steven M.
Learning & Memory, v11 n6 p720-723 Nov 2004
In this paper, we demonstrate nondeclarative sequence learning in mice using an animal analog of the human serial reaction time task (SRT) that uses a within-group comparison of behavior in response to a repeating sequence versus a random sequence. Ten female B6CBA mice performed eleven 96-trial sessions containing 24 repetitions of a 4-trial sequence. During the 12th session, the repeating sequence was replaced with the random sequence halfway through the session. Reaction time (RT) to respond to an illuminated nose-poke was recorded, and performance was compared at the halfway point in each session to test for any change in behavior. For learning effect, RTs decreased over the no-switch repeating-sequence sessions. For interference effect, behavior did not change appreciably at the halfway point during the last repeating-sequence session. However, RTs deteriorated significantly after the switch from repeating to random sequences halfway through session 12. The mice demonstrated a robust interference effect when switched from repeating to random sequences. This pattern of behavior in humans performing the SRT is interpreted as evidence of nondeclarative sequence learning. The similarity between the human and mouse SRTs will enable more direct comparisons of mouse-human nondeclarative memory behavior and will provide a useful behavioral end-point in mouse-models of basal ganglia dysfunction. (Contains 1 figure.)
Descriptors: Animal Behavior, Behavioral Science Research, Learning Processes, Sequential Learning, Comparative Analysis, Memory, Models, Logical Thinking, Animals, Reaction Time
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A