title: The RAT-ROTADRUM: a reaction time task depending on a continuous stream of tactile sensory information to the rat.
abstract: Rats running in their natural habitat monitor the immediate environment with their micro- and macrovibrissae as if reading Braille. These sensory inputs can serve as a cue to change their ongoing motor patterns, for instance to avoid obstacles. To mimic this behavior in a laboratory setting we present a novel behavioral test design. It includes a self-controlled stimulus presentation with sensory discrimination acting as a cue to redirect motor behavior. To acquire the final paradigm, rats undergo a sequenced training protocol. Extracellular neuronal activity was recorded during task performance in the final paradigm. Together with this behavioral test box we present a flexible, easy to build and affordable modular stimulus control system.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Theoretical Neurobiology, University of Antwerp, Belgium. koen@tnb.ua.ac.be
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tahon
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wijnants
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Schutter
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001703:Biophysics; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000502:physiology; D003216:Conditioning, Operant; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D004327:Drinking Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology*; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000166:cytology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D045442:Rotarod Performance Test / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology*; D014868:Water Deprivation / Q000502:physiology