Mice discriminate between stationary and moving 2D shapes: application to the object recognition task to increase attention.
Behav Brain Res
; 242: 95-101, 2013 Apr 01.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-23291156
ABSTRACT
Selective attention can be assessed with the novel object recognition (NOR) test. In the standard version of this test the selection of objects to be used is critical. We created a modified version of NOR, the virtual object recognition test (VORT) in mice, where the 3D objects were replaced with highly discriminated geometrical shapes and presented on two 3.5-inch widescreen displays. No difference in the discrimination index (from 5min to 96h of inter-trial) was found between NOR and VORT. Scopolamine and mecamylamine decreased the discrimination index. Conversely, the discrimination index increased when nicotine was given to mice. No further improvement in the discrimination index was observed when nicotine was injected in mice presented with highly discriminable shapes. To test the possibility that object movements increased mice's attention in the VORT, different movements were applied to the same geometrical shapes previously presented. Mice were able to distinguish among different movements (horizontal, vertical, oblique). Notably, the shapes previously found not distinguishable when stationary were better discriminated when moving. Collectively, these findings indicate that VORT, based on virtual geometric simple shapes, offers the possibility to obtain rapid information on amnesic/pro-amnestic potential of new drugs. The introduction of motion is a strong cue that makes the task more valuable to study attention.
Texto completo:
1
Bases de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Atenção
/
Percepção Espacial
/
Reconhecimento Psicológico
/
Aprendizagem por Discriminação
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Percepção de Movimento
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Behav Brain Res
Ano de publicação:
2013
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Itália