The attentional set shifting task: a measure of cognitive flexibility in mice

Journal of Visualized Experiments : JoVE
Jillian M HeislerJason C O'Connor

Abstract

Cognitive impairment, particularly involving dysfunction of circuitry within the prefrontal cortex (PFC), represents a core feature of many neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder. Deficits in cognitive function also represent the most difficult symptom domain to successfully treat, as serotonin reuptake inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants have only modest effects. Functional neuroimaging studies and postmortem analysis of human brain tissue implicate the PFC as being a primary region of dysregulation in patients with these disorders. However, preclinical behavioral assays used to assess these deficits in mouse models which can be readily manipulated genetically and could provide the basis for studies of new treatment avenues have been underutilized. Here we describe the adaptation of a behavioral assay, the attentional set shifting task (AST), to be performed in mice to assess prefrontal cortex mediated cognitive deficits. The neural circuits underlying behavior during the AST are highly conserved across humans, nonhuman primates and rodents, providing excellent face, construct and predictive validity.

Citations

Apr 14, 2016·Neuroscience·Jessica L Hurtubise, John G Howland
Jan 30, 2020·Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience·Khadijah S AlexanderAlmira Vazdarjanova
Jul 14, 2020·Frontiers in Neuroscience·Kyna-Anne ConnJames P Kesby
Apr 14, 2017·Psychopharmacology·M SzlachtaA Faron-Górecka
Dec 20, 2020·Journal of Neuroscience Methods·A J Sorby-AdamsA J Morton
Mar 2, 2021·Frontiers in Neuroscience·Linda TsanScott E Kanoski

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