Omission evoked potentials (OEPs) in rats and the effects of diazepam

We investigated whether evoked potentials to omitted stimuli could be measured in rats. Such an animal model would provide a measure of aspects of information processing concerned with expectancy and time estimation. In a first experiment, omission evoked potentials (OEPs) were elicited in rats by omitting stimuli (10%) from a train of tone pips with a fixed ISI (3 s). A control session consisted of omitting stimuli (10%) from a train of tone pips with a variable ISI (2.5-3.5 s). In a second experiment, OEPs were measured in rats that received 4 mg x kg(-1) diazepam or vehicle sc. In the first experiment, half of the animals showed OEPs that consisted of a late-latency positive wave, the other rats showed a slow negative drift. No OEPs were found in the control session. Rats showing OEPs consisting of a positive wave in Experiment 1 were passed to Experiment 2. In the vehicle condition of the second experiment, all rats showed OEPs. In the diazepam condition no OEPs were found. We found that OEPs can be measured in rats. In addition, OEPs are disrupted by diazepam. We propose that OEPs provide an elegant tool to elicit selectively endogenous EP components.