Fear conditioning is one of the most frequently used laboratory procedures for modeling learning and memory generally, anxiety disorders in particular. The conditional response (CR) majority fear studies rodents freezing. Recently, it has been reported that under certain conditions, running, jumping, or darting replaces freezing as dominant CR. These findings raise both a critical methodological problem an important theoretical issue. If only measured but express their with different...

In order to effectively thwart predation, antipredator defensive behaviors must be matched the current spatio-temporal relationship predator. We have proposed a model where different responses are organized along predatory imminence continuum (PIC). The PIC is behavior system as sequence of innately programmed behavioral modes, each representing interaction with predator or threat. Ranging from low threat contact, categorizes defense modes pre-encounter, post-encounter, and circa-strike,...

Several studies have shown that housing rats in an enriched environment (EE) after traumatic brain injury (TBI) improves functional and histological outcome. The typical EE includes exploratory, sensory, social components cages are often vastly larger than standard (STD) housing. It is uncertain, however, whether a single or specific component sufficient to confer these benefits TBI, if all, perhaps additive synergistic manner, necessary. To clarify this ambiguity, anesthetized adult male...

Chronic stress leads to neurochemical and structural alterations in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) that correspond deficits PFC-mediated behaviors. The present study examined effects of chronic restraint on response inhibition (using a response-withholding task, fixed-minimum interval schedule reinforcement, or FMI), working memory radial arm water maze, RAWM). Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were first trained RAWM subsequently FMI. After acquisition FMI, assigned (6h/d/28d wire mesh...

Antipredator defense is organized in a way that mirrors Timberlake's feeding behavior system because the goal of to thwart predatory behavior. Each mode has corresponding antipredator mode. Like appetitive systems, defensive around distinct modes along spatiotemporal continuum we call imminence continuum. Behavior systems theory directs investigation toward factors lead transitions between modes. In and sex time Conditional Stimulus (CS) Unconditional (US; e.g., CS-US interval or CS...

It is well established that a relatively brief exposure to environmental enrichment (EE) enhances motor and cognitive performance after experimental traumatic brain injury (TBI), but it not known whether the benefits can be sustained EE discontinued. To address this important rehabilitation-relevant concern, anesthetized rats received controlled cortical impact (CCI) or sham injury, for phase 1 of experiment were randomly assigned either 3 weeks standard (STD) housing. Neurobehavioral...

Abstract Chronic stress results in reversible spatial learning impairments the Morris water maze that correspond with hippocampal CA3 dendritic retraction male rats. Whether chronic impacts different types of memory domains, and whether these can similarly recover, is unknown. This study assessed effects without a post‐stress delay to evaluate deficits within two reference working memory, radial arm (RAWM). Three groups 5‐month‐old Sprague–Dawley rats were either not stressed [control...

In the pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury (TBI), amygdala remains understudied, despite involvement in processing emotional and stressful stimuli associated with anxiety disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Because basolateral (BLA) integrates inputs from sensory other limbic structures coordinating learning memory, injury-induced changes circuitry may contribute to psychiatric sequelae TBI. This study quantified temporal dendritic complexity BLA neurons after...

We describe the close correspondence between predatory imminence continuum theory (PICT) and National Institute of Mental Health's Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) for negative valence. RDoC's valence constructs relate aversively motivated behavioral reactions to various levels threat. PICT divides defensive responses into distinct modes that vary along a psychological closeness While there is threat constructs, based on PICT, we some potential elaborations RDoC constructs. Both have...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential efficacy serotonin1A (5-HT1A) receptor agonist buspirone (BUS) on behavioral and histological outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Ninety-six isoflurane-anesthetized adult male rats were randomized receive either a controlled cortical impact or sham injury, then assigned six TBI groups receiving one five doses BUS (0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5 mg/kg) saline vehicle (VEH, 1.0 mL/kg). Treatments began 24 h surgery administered...

Environmental enrichment (EE) and serotonin1A (5-HT1A)-receptor agonists provide significant benefit after experimental traumatic brain injury (TBI). The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that combining these therapies would produce an effect is more robust than either therapy alone. Anesthetized adult male rats received a cortical impact or sham then were randomly assigned EE standard (STD) housing where they buspirone (0.3 mg/kg) vehicle (1.0 mL/kg) once daily for 3 weeks. Motor...

Chronic restraint stress impairs hippocampal-mediated spatial learning and memory, which improves following a post-stress recovery period. Here, we investigated whether brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), protein important for hippocampal function, would alter the from chronic stress-induced memory deficits. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were infused into dorsal cornu ammonis (CA)3 region with an adeno-associated viral vector containing sequence short hairpin RNA (shRNA) directed...

After natural menopause in women, androstenedione becomes the primary hormone secreted by residual follicle-depleted ovaries. In two independent studies, rodents that had undergone ovarian follicular depletion, we found higher endogenous serum levels correlated with increased working memory errors. This led to hypothesis impair memory. The current study directly tested this hypothesis, examining cognitive effects of exogenous administration rodents. Middle-aged ovariectomised rats received...

Abstract Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most common injuries to military personnel, a population often exposed stressful stimuli and emotional trauma. Changes in sensory processing after TBI might contribute TBI-post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) comorbidity. Combining an animal model with trauma, we reveal interaction between auditory sensitivity fear conditioning where 75 dB white noise alone evokes phonophobia-like phenotype when paired footshocks, robustly enhanced....