The Value of Homework: Exposure to Odors in the Home Cage Enhances Odor Discrimination Learning In Mice.

The Value of Homework: Exposure to Odors in the Home Cage Enhances Odor Discrimination Learning In Mice. Chem Senses. 2018 Dec 24;: Authors: Fleming G, Wright BA, Wilson DA Abstract Perceptual learning is an enhancement in discriminability of similar stimuli following experience with those stimuli. Here, we examined the efficacy of adding additional active training following a standard training session, compared to additional stimulus exposure in the absence of associated task performance. Mice were trained daily in an odor-discrimination task, and then, several hours later each day, received one of three different manipulations: 1) a second active-training session, 2) non-task-related odor exposure in the home cage, or 3) no second session. For home-cage exposure, odorants were presented in small tubes that mice could sniff and investigate for a similar period of time as in the active discrimination task each day. The results demonstrate that daily home-cage exposure was equivalent to active odor training in supporting improved odor discrimination. Daily home-cage exposure to odorants that did not match those used in the active task did not improve learning, yielding outcomes similar to those obtained with no second session. Piriform cortical local field potential recordings revealed that both sampling in the active learning task and investigation in the home cage evoked similar beta band oscillatory activity. Together the results s...
Source: Chemical Senses - Category: Biochemistry Authors: Tags: Chem Senses Source Type: research