Predator odor avoidance as a rodent model of anxiety: learning-mediated consequences beyond the initial exposure.
Prey animals such as rats display innate defensive responses when exposed to the odor of a predator, providing a valuable means of studying the neurobiology of anxiety. While the unconditioned behavioral and neural responses to a single predator odor exposure have been well documented, the paradigm can also be used to study learning-dependent adaptations that occur following repeated exposure to a stressor or associated stimuli. In developing preclinical models for human anxiety disorders this is advantageous, as anxiety disorders seldom involve a single acute experience of anxiety, but rather are chronic and/or recurring illnesses. Part 1 of this review summarizes current research on the three most commonly used predator-related odors: cat odor, ferret odor, and trimethylthiazoline (a component of fox odor). Part 2 reviews the learning-based behavioral and neural adaptations that underlie predator odor-induced context conditioning, one-trial tolerance, sensitization, habituation and dishabituation.
Staples
Lauren G
LG
Department of Psychology C3A/Neuropharmacology Laboratory, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia. Lauren.Staples@mq.edu.au
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001245:Association Learning; D001362:Avoidance Learning; D002415:Cats; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic; D006801:Humans; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D051381:Rats; D012903:Smell; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*