title: Behavior modification after inactivation of cerebellar dentate nuclei.
abstract: Effort-based decision making occurs when subjects are given a choice between a reward available at a high response cost and a reward available at a low response cost and is altered in individuals with disorders such as autism or particular patterns of brain injury. The current study explored the relationship between effort-based decision making and reinforcement characteristics in the T maze. This was done using both normal animals and animals with bilateral inactivation of the cerebellar dentate nuclei. Rats chose between alternatives in which one arm contained high-density reinforcement (HR) and the other arm contained low-density reinforcement (LR). During training, the HR arm was obstructed and the point at which the animal no longer worked for reinforcement (breaking point) was determined. The cerebellar dentate nuclei were then transiently inactivated and once again breaking points were assessed. The results indicated that inactivation of the dentate nucleus disrupted effort-based decision making. Additionally, altering both the palatability and the magnitude of the reinforcement were assessed in an attempt to reestablish the original preinactivation breaking point. It was hypothesized that an increase in the strength or magnitude of the reinforcement would promote an increase in the breaking point of the animal even when the cerebellum was inactivated. The results indicated that with both strategies animals effectively reestablished original breaking points. The results of this study will inform the current literature regarding the modification of behavior after brain injury and further the understanding of the behavioral deficits associated with cerebellar dysfunction.
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA.
authors: Todd C
authors: TC
authors: Peterson
authors: Lee
authors: L
authors: Villatoro
authors: Tom
authors: T
authors: Arneson
authors: Brittany
authors: B
authors: Ahuja
authors: Stephanie
authors: S
authors: Voss
authors: Rodney A
authors: RA
authors: Swain
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002529:Cerebellar Nuclei / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005508:Food Deprivation / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D012201:Reward; D045442:Rotarod Performance Test
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D002045:Bupivacaine