Resistance of experientially-induced changes in murine plus-maze behaviour to altered retest conditions.
Prior exposure to the elevated plus-maze results in profound behavioural alterations in rats and mice, with 24 h retest profiles indicative of fear sensitization. The present study was designed to examine the influence of retest cues on this phenomenon in male DBA/2 mice. Results confirmed the potent influence of prior maze experience on subsequent behavioural patterns, and showed that this was not affected by manipulations of extra-maze cues (90 degrees re-orientation of the maze or use of a different laboratory) on Trial 2. Data are discussed in relation to experientially-induced shifts in behavioural strategy and the apparent involvement of simple proximal cues (probably thigmotactic) in this enduring and adaptive form of spatial learning.
Rodgers
R J
RJ
Department of Psychology, University of Leeds, UK. johnr@psychology.leeds.ac.uk
Johnson
N J
NJ
Carr
J
J
Hodgson
T P
TP
D000818:Animals; D001245:Association Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000502:physiology; D012931:Social Environment
D011963:Receptors, GABA-A