Effects on goal directed behavior and habit in two animal models of parkinson's disease.

Effects on goal directed behavior and habit in two animal models of parkinson's disease. Neurobiol Learn Mem. 2020 Feb 11;:107190 Authors: Márquez I, Muñoz MF, Ayala A, Carlos López J, Pedro Vargas J, Díaz E Abstract Instrumental conditioning involves two different processes: Goal-directed behavior, characterized by its dependence on the causal relationship between action and outcome and the sensitivity of actions to changes in the value of the outcome; and habits, characterized for its persistence and insensitivity to changes after conditioning. It is known that the dopaminergic system is involved in both kind of learning. The present experiments analyzed two animal models of Parkinson's disease. The 6-OHDA model causes selective damage of the catecholaminergic neurons, specifically affecting the dopaminergic neurons in nigro-striatal system. This model simulates degenerative process symptomatology of Parkinson's disease. On the other hand, the LPS model generates an inflammation process in the infusion area. This model simulates the early symptoms of this disorder, including neuroinflammation and microglia activation. In order to validate both parkinsonian models, we studied if 6-OHDA and LPS models cause the same behavioral effects. The results showed that the 6-OHDA model interfered with the process involved in habit formation. In contrast, animals treated with LPS showed a goal-directed learning deficit. Differences between ...
Source: Neurobiology of Learning and Memory - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Neurobiol Learn Mem Source Type: research