Sequential analysis and attention

N. Khonicheva1 and K. Nikolskaya2

1Institute of Higher Nervous Activity & Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
2Department of Higher Nervous Activity, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia

The main peculiarity and privilege of animal model is the visibility of attention as a behavioral motivational reaction: approaching and searching a subject during spatial learning. Sequential change of the target's attention may be determined as a basic cognitive element, characterizing spatial learning in both individual typical normal variants and in psychopathological state models. Using a surplus number of sense elements - rewarded (F1-F2) feeders together with un-rewarded, or false ones (F3-F4) in the complicated T-maze (OTO-like form, with two going out in symmetrical ring alleys) we analyzed the probability of the sequence from both rewarded elements F1-F2 in rats. The interrupted registration of all reaction was done by a hand computer method during every 13-minute session (3 weeks duration), followed by analysis with a statistical program. Normal and limbic brain damage (amygdalectomised) groups of animals were compared.

session to session during the first 3-5 experiments. The general attention to both these elements correlated with earliest arising of whole optimal 4-elements sequence of learned cyclic habit (going out from the maze after food taking from both F1-F2 and re-entering). However, early arising didn't combine with stable reproduction of the whole optimal cycle , which varied from trial to trial (deficit of working memory?). The alternative variant (20%) showed latest arising of the sequence F1-F2- stable reproduction.

The crucial difference of limbic brain damage animal was revealed as arising of some abnormal sequences (like F1-F3), including non-essential elements - false feeders, which were "cut" in the norm during first trials. Thus original aberration of attention, induced by an "inhibition mechanism of motivational estimation" disorder, may be cue one for some mental diseases (schizophrenia).


Poster presented at Measuring Behavior 2000, 3rd International Conference on Methods and Techniques in Behavioral Research, 15-18 August 2000, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

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