title: Dynamic functional brain networks involved in simple visual discrimination learning.
abstract: Visual discrimination tasks have been widely used to evaluate many types of learning and memory processes. However, little is known about the brain regions involved at different stages of visual discrimination learning. We used cytochrome c oxidase histochemistry to evaluate changes in regional brain oxidative metabolism during visual discrimination learning in a water-T maze at different time points during training. As compared with control groups, the results of the present study reveal the gradual activation of cortical (prefrontal and temporal cortices) and subcortical brain regions (including the striatum and the hippocampus) associated to the mastery of a simple visual discrimination task. On the other hand, the brain regions involved and their functional interactions changed progressively over days of training. Regions associated with novelty, emotion, visuo-spatial orientation and motor aspects of the behavioral task seem to be relevant during the earlier phase of training, whereas a brain network comprising the prefrontal cortex was found along the whole learning process. This study highlights the relevance of functional interactions among brain regions to investigate learning and memory processes.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Instituto de Neurociencias del Principado de Asturias (INEUROPA), University of Oviedo, Plaza Feijóo s/n, E-33003 Oviedo, Spain. Electronic address: alvarezcamino@uniovi.es.
authors.forename: Camino
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fidalgo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Instituto de Neurociencias del Principado de Asturias (INEUROPA), University of Oviedo, Plaza Feijóo s/n, E-33003 Oviedo, Spain. Electronic address: conejonelida@uniovi.es.
authors.forename: Nélida María
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Conejo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Instituto de Neurociencias del Principado de Asturias (INEUROPA), University of Oviedo, Plaza Feijóo s/n, E-33003 Oviedo, Spain. Electronic address: hgpardo@uniovi.es.
authors.forename: Héctor
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: González-Pardo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Instituto de Neurociencias del Principado de Asturias (INEUROPA), University of Oviedo, Plaza Feijóo s/n, E-33003 Oviedo, Spain. Electronic address: jarias@uniovi.es.
authors.forename: Jorge Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Arias
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology*; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV
keywords: Cytochrome c oxidase; Functional brain networks; Rat; Visual discrimination learning