Multiphasic Retention Deficits at Periodic Intervals after Passive-Avoidance Learning

Abstract

Aftetr one-trial passive-avoidance training, indepelenet groups of rats tested promptly after training or at successive 6-hour intervals displayed a repetitive pattern of high then low retention scores. These results suggest that some physiological rhythm may interact with retention performance.

Validation of an air-puff passive-avoidance paradigm for assessment of aversive learning and memory in rat models of chronic pain

“…In our validation experiment, retention trial step-through latency in the air-puff saline group was 264.7s (119.5 -300s) compared with 9.34s (8.01 -11.01s) in the acquisition trial (data expressed as median ± interquartile ranges). Notably, the magnitude of this avoidance response was similar to that observed in similar one-trial paradigms which used foot-shock to induce passive avoidance (Graham and Buccafusco, 2001;Holloway and Wansley, 1973). As with foot-shock (Elrod and Buccafusco, 1988), air-puff-induced passive avoidance was sensitive to the pre-acquisition administration of the muscarinic receptor antagonist scopolamine, indicating a learning-mediated phenomenon.…”

Sleep Deprivation in the Dark Period Does Not Impair Memory in OF1 Mice

“…First, there is evidence that there is a circadian component to learning and memory (Holloway and Wansley 1973;Stephan and Kovacevic 1978;Chaudhury and Colwell 2002;Lyons et al 2005;Eckel-Mahan et al 2008). Circadian differences in performance in a passive avoidance retention task were abolished in SCN lesioned rats, while the sham-operated and control rats displayed optimal retention only 24 h after acquisition (Stephan and Kovacevic 1978).…”

“…We have shown previously that mice subjected to 6 h SD at light onset, following immediately upon acquisition, displayed a significant object recognition deficit 24 h later, while memory was not impaired when the same SD was performed with a 6-h delay (Palchykova et al 2006b). Learning and memory have been shown to be influenced by circadian timing (rodents: Holloway and Wansley 1973;Stephan and Kovacevic 1978;Chaudhury and Colwell 2002;Eckel-Mahan et al 2008;Aplisia: Lyons et al 2005). Mice showed a faster acquisition of contextual fear when they were trained during the light period compared to the dark period, and their recall was markedly superior after the light-phase training (Chaudhury and Colwell 2002;Eckel-Mahan et al 2008).…”

Effect of circadian phase on context and cued fear conditioning in C57BL/6J mice

“…passive avoidance learning (Holloway & Wansley, 1973a, 1973bWansley & Holloway, 1976), as well as one-trial appetitivelearning (Wansley & Holloway, 1975), have been well characterized. These retention deficits represent an inability of the animal to retrieve the memory of a learning experience when the training-testing delay is at non-24-h intervals and are flattened by lesions of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (the master biological clock in mammals; Stephan & Kovacevic, 1978).…”