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Whisker-signaled Eyeblink Classical Conditioning in Head-fixed Mice
Published on: March 30, 2016
Eyeblink conditioning leads to fewer synapses in the rabbit cerebellar cortex
S Connor1, J Bloomfield, J C LeBoutillier
1Department of Psychology, Nipissing University, North Bay, Ontario, Canada.
Behavioral Neuroscience
|July 29, 2009
Summary
Eyeblink conditioning learning involves synaptic changes in the cerebellar cortex. This study found a decrease in excitatory synapses in conditioned rabbits, suggesting a role in learning.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Cellular Biology
Background:
- Eyeblink conditioning is a well-studied form of associative learning.
- The neural circuitry is defined, but synaptic plasticity remains under-investigated.
- The cerebellar cortex modulates conditioned response acquisition and timing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate synaptic structural plasticity in the cerebellar cortex during eyeblink conditioning.
- To explore the role of Purkinje cell (PC) long-term depression in this learning model.
Main Methods:
- Adult albino rabbits were used.
- Rabbits were assigned to paired, unpaired, or exposure-only conditions.
- Excitatory synapses in the cerebellar cortex were quantified.
Main Results:
- A significant decrease in excitatory synapses was observed in the outer cerebellar cortex of conditioned rabbits.
- This reduction was compared to control groups (unpaired and exposure-only).
Conclusions:
- Synaptic structural plasticity, specifically a reduction in excitatory synapses, occurs in the cerebellar cortex during eyeblink conditioning.
- This synaptic change may underlie the lasting depression of Purkinje cell activity essential for conditioned response formation.
