title: Sub-processes of motor learning revealed by a robotic manipulandum for rodents.
abstract: Rodent models are widely used to investigate neural changes in response to motor learning. Usually, the behavioral readout of motor learning tasks used for this purpose is restricted to a binary measure of performance (i.e. "successful" movement vs. "failure"). Thus, the assignability of research in rodents to concepts gained in human research - implying diverse internal models that constitute motor learning - is still limited. To solve this problem, we recently introduced a three-degree-of-freedom robotic platform designed for rats (the ETH-Pattus) that combines an accurate behavioral readout (in the form of kinematics) with the possibility to invasively assess learning related changes within the brain (e.g. by performing immunohistochemistry or electrophysiology in acute slice preparations). Here, we validate this platform as a tool to study motor learning by establishing two forelimb-reaching paradigms that differ in degree of skill. Both conditions can be precisely differentiated in terms of their temporal pattern and performance levels. Based on behavioral data, we hypothesize the presence of several sub-processes contributing to motor learning. These share close similarities with concepts gained in humans or primates.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, LEO B9.1 Leonhardstrasse 27, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lambercy
authors.affiliation: Vascular Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, Department of Neurology, University of Zurich, Frauenklinikstrasse 26, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schubring-Giese
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, LEO B9.1 Leonhardstrasse 27, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vigaru
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, LEO B9.1 Leonhardstrasse 27, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gassert
authors.affiliation: Vascular Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, Department of Neurology, University of Zurich, Frauenklinikstrasse 26, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, 1550 Orleans Street, Baltimore MD 21231, USA. Electronic address: andreas.luft@uzh.ch.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Luft
authors.affiliation: Vascular Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, Department of Neurology, University of Zurich, Frauenklinikstrasse 26, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hosp
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D012371:Robotics
keywords: ETH Pattus; Motor learning; Robot; Rodent