Eyeblink conditioning in rats using pontine stimulation as a conditioned stimulus

John H Freeman Jr; Christine A Rabinak

doi:10.1007/BF02734438

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Eyeblink conditioning in rats using pontine stimulation as a conditioned stimulus

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Eyeblink conditioning in rats using pontine stimulation as a conditioned stimulus

John H Freeman Jr and Christine A Rabinak

Integrative physiological and behavioral science, Vol.39(3), pp.180-191

07/2004

DOI: 10.1007/BF02734438

PMCID: PMC1249521

PMID: 15929500

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Abstract

Previous studies using rabbits and ferrets found that electrical stimulation of the pontine nuclei or middle cerebellar peduncle could serve as a conditioned stimulus (CS) in eyeblink conditioning (Bao, Chen, & Thompson, 2000; Hesslow, Svensson, & Ivarsson, 1999; Steinmetz, 1990; Steinmetz, Lavond, & Thompson, 1985; 1989; Steinmetz et al., 1986; Tracy, Thompson, Krupa, & Thompson, 1998). The current study used electrical stimulation of the pontine nuclei as a CS to establish eyeblink conditioning in rats. The goals of this study were to develop a method for directly activating the CS pathway in rodents and to compare the neural circuitry underlying eyeblink conditioning in different mammalian species. Rats were given electrical stimulation through a bipolar electrode implanted in the pontine nuclei paired with a periorbital shock unconditioned stimulus (US). Paired training was followed by extinction training. A subset of rats was given a test session of paired training after receiving an infusion of muscimol into the anterior interpositus nucleus. Rats given paired presentations of the stimulation CS and US developed CRs rapidly and showed extinction. Muscimol infusion prior to the test session resulted in a reversible loss of the eyeblink CR. The results demonstrate that electrical stimulation of the pontine nuclei can be used as a CS in rodents and that the CS pathway is similar in rats, rabbits, and ferrets. In addition, the loss of CRs following muscimol inactivation shows that the conditioning produced with pontine stimulation depends on cerebellar mechanisms.

Muscimol - pharmacology

Electric Stimulation

Neural Pathways - drug effects

Rats, Long-Evans

Pons - drug effects

Pons - physiology

Rats

Male

Neural Pathways - physiology

Association Learning - physiology

Association Learning - drug effects

Blinking - physiology

Cerebellar Nuclei - drug effects

Conditioning, Eyelid - physiology

Animals

GABA Agonists - pharmacology

Cerebellar Nuclei - physiology

Conditioning, Eyelid - drug effects

Details

Title: Subtitle: Eyeblink conditioning in rats using pontine stimulation as a conditioned stimulus
Creators: John H Freeman Jr - Department of Psychology, University of Iowa, E11 Seashore Hall, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. john-freeman@uiowa.edu
Christine A Rabinak
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Integrative physiological and behavioral science, Vol.39(3), pp.180-191
DOI: 10.1007/BF02734438
PMID: 15929500
PMCID: PMC1249521
NLM abbreviation: Integr Physiol Behav Sci
ISSN: 1053-881X
eISSN: 2168-7846
Publisher: United States
Grant note: NS38890 / NINDS NIH HHS MH065483 / NIMH NIH HHS R01 NS038890 / NINDS NIH HHS R01 MH065483 / NIMH NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 07/2004
Academic Unit: Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
Record Identifier: 9984065858002771

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