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Hippocampal and body temperature changes in rats during delayed matching-to-sample performance in a cold environment
S T Ahlers1, J R Thomas, D L Berkey
1Behavioral Neuroscience Division, Naval Medical Research Institute, Bethesda, MD 20889-5055.
Physiology & Behavior
|November 1, 1991
Summary
Cold stress impairs working memory in rats. Subtle brain temperature changes during cold exposure may be linked to this cognitive decline, affecting performance on memory tasks.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Environmental Physiology
Background:
- Working memory is crucial for cognitive function.
- Environmental temperature can influence physiological and cognitive processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of cold stress on working memory in rats.
- To examine the relationship between brain temperature and working memory performance under cold conditions.
Main Methods:
- Rats were subjected to ambient temperatures of 23°C and 2°C.
- Telemetry thermistor probes monitored hippocampal and peritoneal cavity temperatures.
- Rats performed a delayed matching-to-sample (DMTS) task to assess working memory.
Main Results:
- Matching accuracy significantly decreased at 2°C, indicating impaired working memory.
- Hippocampal temperature increased less during cold exposure (2°C) compared to thermoneutral conditions (23°C).
- Cold exposure attenuated the rise in body temperature during task performance.
Conclusions:
- Cold-induced impairment of working memory in rats is evident.
- Subtle changes in brain temperature during cold stress may underlie working memory deficits.
- These findings highlight the sensitivity of cognitive functions to thermal challenges.