A new touchscreen test of pattern separation: effect of hippocampal lesions.
Researchers are becoming increasingly interested in the role of the hippocampus in pattern separation, a process which keeps items distinct in memory. In this study, we develop and test a new automated touchscreen-based method for studying pattern separation in rodents. Rats were trained to discriminate locations on a computer screen that varied in their similarity, that is, their distance apart on the screen. Animals with lesions of the dorsal hippocampus were impaired when the locations discriminated were close together but not when they were far apart, indicating impaired pattern separation. This test provides an automated test of pattern separation, which adds to an expanding battery of cognitive tests that can be carried out using the touchscreen testing method.
McTighe
Stephanie M
SM
Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. sm508@cam.ac.uk
Mar
Adam C
AC
Romberg
Carola
C
Bussey
Timothy J
TJ
Saksida
Lisa M
LM
D000818:Animals; D001245:Association Learning / Q000502:physiology; D001525:Behavioral Sciences / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D003201:Computers / Q000639:trends; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000502:physiology; D003714:Denervation; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009484:Neuropsychology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012691:Serial Learning / Q000502:physiology; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D014796:Visual Perception