Reactivity to conditioned threat cues is distinct from exploratory drive in the elevated plus maze

• DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15870
• Publication Date: 2022-11-16T12:16:25Z
• Authors: Joe R. Hilton; Susannah R. Simpson; Emily R. Sherman; Will Raby‐Smith; Keemia Azvine; Maite Arribas; Jiaqi Zou; Serena Deiana; Bastian Hengerer; Emma N. Cahill
• Keywords: Aversive Stimulus; Stimulus (psychology); Elevated plus maze; Freezing behavior

Fear and anxiety are adaptive states that allow humans animals alike to respond appropriately threatening cues in their environment. Commonly used tasks for studying behaviour akin fear rodent models Pavlovian threat conditioning the elevated plus maze (EPM), respectively. In rodents learn associate an aversive event with a specific stimulus or context. The learnt association between two stimuli (the 'memory') can then be recalled by re-exposing subject conditioned stimulus. is argued measure agoraphobic avoidance of brightly lit open arms crepuscular rodents. These have been extensively, yet research into whether they interact scarce. We investigated recall memory, across contextual, odour auditory modalities, would potentiate anxiety-like maze. data did not support memory recall, even over series time points, could influence EPM behaviour. Furthermore, there was no correlation freezing independent cohorts tested before after conditioning. Further analysis found production 22 kHz ultrasonic vocalisations revealed strongest responders cue. results particular importance consideration when using identify individual differences possibility use batteries tests without cross-task interference.