title: Baseline hippocampal theta oscillation speeds correlate with rate of operant task acquisition.
abstract: Many lines of evidence indicate that theta rhythm, a prominent neural oscillatory mode found in the mammalian hippocampus, plays a key role in the acquisition, processing, and retrieval of memories. However, a predictive neurophysiological feature of the baseline theta rhythm that correlates with the learning rate across different animals has yet to be identified. Here we show that the mean theta rhythm speed observed during baseline periods of immobility has a strong positive correlation with the rate at which rats learn an operant task. This relationship is observed across rats, during both quiet waking (r=0.82; p<0.01) and paradoxical sleep (r=0.83; p<0.01), suggesting that the basal theta frequency relates to basic neurological processes that are important in the acquisition of operant behavior.
authors: Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA. lucas_santos@brown.edu
authors: Lucas M
authors: LM
authors: Santos
authors: Kafui
authors: K
authors: Dzirasa
authors: Rodrigo
authors: R
authors: Kubo
authors: M Teresa A
authors: MT
authors: Silva
authors: Sidarta
authors: S
authors: Ribeiro
authors: Koichi
authors: K
authors: Sameshima
authors: Angela C
authors: AC
authors: Valle
authors: Cesar
authors: C
authors: Timo-Iaria
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000502:physiology*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D004576:Electromyography; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D012201:Reward; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D013826:Theta Rhythm; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology