The Rat Lux Actuating Search Task (LAST) and Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Task Reversal Performance
Loading...
Authors
Foakes, Callum
Lawrence-Sidebottom, Darian
Dralega, Aseru T.
Harvey, Daniel O.
Schmidt, Michelle A.
Davis, Christopher J.
Subjects
Light
cognition
rodent models
attention
sleep loss
cognitive flexibility
cognition
rodent models
attention
sleep loss
cognitive flexibility
Advisors
Date of Issue
2022-05
Date
Publisher
SSRN
Language
Abstract
Sleep deprivation (SD) causes significant deficits in multiple aspects of cognition, including sustained attention and working memory. Investigating the neural processes underpinning these cognitive losses has proven challenging due to the confounds of current animal tasks; many employ appetitive or aversive stimuli to motivate behavior, while others lack task complexity that translates to human studies of executive function. We established the Lux Actuating Search Task (LAST) to circumvent these issues. The LAST is performed in a circular, open-field arena that requires rats to find an unmarked, quasi-randomly positioned target. Constant low-level floor vibrations motivate ambulation, while light intensity (determined by the rodent's proximity to the target destination) provides continuous visual feedback. The task has two paradigms that differ based on the relationship between the light intensity and target proximity: the Low Lux Target (LLT) paradigm and the High Lux Target paradigm (HLT). In this study, on days 1 to 6, the rats completed nine trials per day on one of the two paradigms. On day 7, the rats were either sleep deprived by gentle handling or were left undisturbed before undertaking the opposite (reversal) paradigm on days 7 to 9. Our results showed that SD significantly impeded the ability of Long Evans rats to learn the reversal paradigm, as indicated by increased times to target and increased failure percentages compared to rats whose sleep was undisturbed. Rats also showed reduced learning with the HLT paradigm, as the initial task or as the reversal task, likely due to the rodents' photophobia limiting their motivation to navigate toward a bright light, which is required to succeed.
Type
Preprint
Description
The article of record as published may be found at�https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4124170
Series/Report No
Department
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
32 p.
Citation
Foakes, Callum and Lawrence-Sidebottom, Darian and Dralega, Aseru T. and Harvey, Daniel O. and Schmidt, Michelle A. and Davis, Christopher J., The Rat Lux Actuating Search Task (LAST) and Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Task Reversal Performance. NBSCR-D-22-00007, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4124170
Distribution Statement
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.