Retinal transplant-mediated learning in a conditioned suppression task in rats.
Retinae were transplanted from embryonic rats to a location over the midbrain of unilaterally anucleated newborn rats. At maturity, the rats were trained to "lever-press" for a food reward. By using a Pavlovian conditioned suppression paradigm, it was found that light delivered to the transplant could be recognized by the host rat as a conditioned stimulus, resulting in a reduced rate of lever pressing.
Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
P J
PJ
Coffey
R D
RD
Lund
J N
JN
Rawlins
D000818:Animals; D003216:Conditioning, Operant; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D007858:Learning; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000502:physiology; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D051381:Rats; D012025:Reflex, Pupillary; D012160:Retina / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation*; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000502:physiology*