Discrimination of multidimensional visual stimuli by mice: intra- and extradimensional shifts.
A visual discrimination protocol similar to that used with monkeys was adapted to measure attentional set-shifting in mice. An automated touchscreen procedure with compound visual stimuli was used to train mice to attend to 1 of 2 stimulus dimensions (lines or shapes). On a 2nd problem with new stimuli, the mice were required to attend to the same dimension (intradimensional [ID] shift) or switch to the previously irrelevant dimension (extradimensional [ED] shift). Mice readily learned the initial compound discrimination and following shift problem, but there was no ID-ED difference. The fact that mice can be tested with stimuli and task sequences similar to those used with primates suggests that this method can be used to directly compare higher cognitive functions in diverse species.
Department of Psychology, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA.
Jonathan L
JL
Brigman
Timothy J
TJ
Bussey
Lisa M
LM
Saksida
Lawrence A
LA
Rothblat
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D014163:Transfer, Psychology; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*