A self-initiated cue-reward learning procedure for neural recording in rodents.

Journal of Neuroscience Methods
Ingrid ReverteGuillem R Esber

Abstract

Single-unit recording in Pavlovian conditioning tasks requires the use of within-subject designs as well as sampling a considerable number of trials per trial type and session, which increases the total trial count. Pavlovian conditioning, on the other hand, requires a long average intertrial interval (ITI) relative to cue duration for cue-specific learning to occur. These requirements combined can make the session duration unfeasibly long. To circumvent this issue, we developed a self-initiated variant of the Pavlovian magazine-approach procedure in rodents. Unlike the standard procedure, where the animals passively receive the trials, the self-initiated procedure grants animals agency to self-administer and self-pace trials from a predetermined, pseudorandomized list. Critically, whereas in the standard procedure the typical ITI is in the order of minutes, our procedure uses a much shorter ITI (10 s). Despite such a short ITI, discrimination learning in the self-initiated procedure is comparable to that observed in the standard procedure with a typical ITI, and superior to that observed in the standard procedure with an equally short ITI. The self-initiated procedure permits delivering 100 trials in a ∼1-h session, almost dou...Continue Reading

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