Adapted for rats, this task measures a Pavlovian response to the screen. This is a very rapidly administered test of simple classical conditioning that is dependent on a reward system centered on the ventral striatum.
The task measures a Pavlovian response to the screen. This is a rapidly administered test of simple classical conditioning that is dependent on a reward system centred on the ventral striatum. White vertical rectangles are presented on either side of the reward tray. One side is always followed by delivery of food reward, the other never. Reward is independent of screen approach. Approaches to the screen are measured via an IR beam detector either side of the food tray. For this task the reward trough is placed in front of the screen.
There is a variant of the task, where reward is only given if the animal does not approach the screen to measure the ability to withhold a response.
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Dalley JW, Chudasama Y, Theobald DE, Pettifer CL, Fletcher CM, Robbins TW. (2002). Nucleus accumbens dopamine and discriminated approach learning: interactive effects of 6-hydroxydopamine lesions and systemic apomorphine administration. Psychopharmacology (Berl).;161(4):425-433.
Inglis WL, Olmstead MC, Robbins TW. (2000) Pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus lesions impair stimulus?reward learning in autoshaping and conditioned reinforcement paradigms. Behav Neurosci.;114(2): 285-294.
Parkinson JA, Willoughby PJ, Robbins TW, Everitt BJ. (2000) Disconnection of the anterior cingulate cortex and nucleus accumbens core impairs Pavlovian approach behavior: further evidence for limbic corticalventral striatopallidal systems. Behav Neurosci.;114(1):42-63.
The Second Generation Bussey Chambers with Intelli-interface supports up to 20 chambers on one PC. On the strength of 10 years of feedback and development, the system is even more flexible and with more features.
