Spatial reversal learning is impaired by age in pet dogs

Abstract

Aged dogs spontaneously develop progressive decline in both cognitive and behavioral function, in addition to neuropathological changes, that collectively parallel several aspects of human aging and Alzheimer's disease progression and likely contribute to the development of canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome. In the current study, ethologically relevant spatial learning, retention, and reversal learning tasks were conducted, with the goal of expanding canine neuropsychological testing to pet dogs. Initially, dogs (N = 44, aged 7.8 ± 2.8 years, mean ± SD) had to learn which of two alternative routes successfully led out of a T-maze. Two weeks later, long-term memory retention was assessed, immediately followed by a reversal learning task in which the previously correct route out of the maze was reversed compared with the initial learning and memory retention tasks. No effects of age were evident on the learning or retention tasks. However, older (≥ 8 years) dogs were significantly impaired on the reversal learning task compared with younger ones (< 8 years). Moreover, trial response latency was significantly increased in aged dogs across both the initial and reversal learning tasks but not on the retention task, which suggests that processing speed was impaired by increasing age during the acquisition of novel spatial information but not during performance of previously learned responses. Overall, the current study provides a framework for assessing cognitive function in pet dogs, which should improve understanding of the effects of aging on cognition in the dog population.

The beneficial role of anti-inflammatory dietary ingredients in attenuating markers of chronic low-grade inflammation in aging

“…In another study with pet dogs, there were no significant effects of age on the learning or retention tasks but older dogs ( ≥ 8 years) were significantly Brought to you by | New York University Bobst Library Technical Services Authenticated Download Date | 7/25/15 8:54 AM impaired on the reversal learning task when compared with younger ones ( < 8 years). In addition, trial response latency was significantly increased in aged dogs across both the initial and reversal learning tasks but not on the retention task [110]. It has also been reported that while a decline in cognitive ability in canines may not affect survival of dogs, they may manifest other clinical symptoms including sleeping during the day and being restless at night, decreased interaction, disorientation at home, and anxiety [111].…”

The effect of age on visuo-spatial short-term memory in family dogs

“…Ageing in dogs is associated with the decline of several cognitive domains, such as learning, memory, visuospatial function, executive function, and attention (Folstein et al 1975;Head 2014;Landsberg et al 2012;Mongillo et al 2013;Svicero & Amorim 2017;Wallis et al 2014). The visuo-spatial memory domain is particularly interesting, because its decline precedes the onset of declines in other domains.…”

Peripheral leukocyte populations and oxidative stress biomarkers in aged dogs showing impaired cognitive abilities

“…The testing assessed attentive and spatial abilities with two protocols already in use in our laboratory and previously proved to be sensitive to cognitive impairment in aged pet dogs. Details of the experimental procedures to assess social attention and spatial learning can be found in our previous studies (Mongillo et al 2010(Mongillo et al , 2013.…”

“…As seen in humans, tasks relying on executive functions are the most age-sensitive in the dog species (Studzinski et al 2006;Tapp et al 2003). For instance, aged dogs show decreased abilities to reverse a previously learned stimulus-reward contingency, as shown both in a laboratory canine model of human aging (Studzinski et al 2006) and in healthy aged pet dogs (Mongillo et al 2013). Selective attention is another example of executive function, where a decline has been observed in both aged laboratory Beagle dogs (Snigdha et al 2012) and aged healthy pet dogs (Mongillo et al 2010;Wallis et al 2014).…”

“…Aged dogs spontaneously develop neuropathological changes as well as cognitive decline and behavioral alterations that parallel several aspects of human senescence, ranging from that seen in physiological aging to those typical of early-stage AD (Cotman and Head 2008;Head 2013;Landsberg et al 2012;Waters 2011). A number of diverse neuropsychological tests have been used in dogs to evaluate effects of aging on a specific cognitive domain (Milgram et al 1994;Mongillo et al 2013;Studzinski et al 2006;Tapp et al 2003). As seen in humans, tasks relying on executive functions are the most age-sensitive in the dog species (Studzinski et al 2006;Tapp et al 2003).…”