A mobile, high-throughput semi-automated system for testing cognition in large non-primate animal models of Huntington disease

Journal of Neuroscience Methods
Sebastian D McBrideA Jennifer Morton

Abstract

For reasons of cost and ethical concerns, models of neurodegenerative disorders such as Huntington disease (HD) are currently being developed in farm animals, as an alternative to non-human primates. Developing reliable methods of testing cognitive function is essential to determining the usefulness of such models. Nevertheless, cognitive testing of farm animal species presents a unique set of challenges. The primary aims of this study were to develop and validate a mobile operant system suitable for high throughput cognitive testing of sheep. We designed a semi-automated testing system with the capability of presenting stimuli (visual, auditory) and reward at six spatial locations. Fourteen normal sheep were used to validate the system using a two-choice visual discrimination task. Four stages of training devised to acclimatise animals to the system are also presented. All sheep progressed rapidly through the training stages, over eight sessions. All sheep learned the 2CVDT and performed at least one reversal stage. The mean number of trials the sheep took to reach criterion in the first acquisition learning was 13.9±1.5 and for the reversal learning was 19.1±1.8. This is the first mobile semi-automated operant system develope...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jan 2, 2018·Royal Society Open Science·Franziska KnolleA Jennifer Morton
Oct 18, 2018·Animal Cognition·Sabrina Briefer FreymondElodie F Briefer
Nov 28, 2018·Zoo Biology·Crystal L Egelkamp, Stephen R Ross
Sep 17, 2019·World Journal of Stem Cells·Laís Vicari de Figueiredo PessôaKristine Karla Freude
Mar 26, 2019·Journal of Neurotrauma·Sandy R ShultzRichelle Mychasiuk
Sep 30, 2018·Experimental Brain Research·Sebastian D McBride, A Jennifer Morton
Sep 15, 2020·Journal of Huntington's Disease·David HowlandJodi McBride
Dec 20, 2020·Journal of Neuroscience Methods·A J Sorby-AdamsA J Morton

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