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Motivational effects on interval timing in dopamine transporter (DAT) knockdown mice
Fuat Balci1, Elliot A Ludvig, Ron Abner
1PsychoGenics Inc, Tarrytown, NY, USA. fbalci@princeton.edu
Brain Research
|February 20, 2010
Summary
Mice with reduced dopamine transporter (DAT) expression showed altered interval timing, responding earlier in tasks. Dopamine D2 receptor antagonism normalized these timing differences, suggesting dopamine
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Dopamine Signaling
Background:
- The dopaminergic system is implicated in interval timing.
- Elevated dopamine may lead to underestimation of time intervals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the dopamine transporter (DAT) in interval timing.
- To determine if dopamine D2 receptors mediate timing alterations in DAT-deficient mice.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a dual-lever, fixed-duration reinforcement task in DAT knockdown (KD) and wild-type (WT) mice.
- Administered raclopride (D2 antagonist) to DAT KD mice.
- Assessed attentional performance in a separate visual attention task.
Main Results:
- DAT KD mice initiated responses earlier than WT mice but had similar peak and termination times.
- Raclopride administration reduced the timing differences between DAT KD and WT mice.
- DAT KD mice showed no deficits in a visual attention task.
Conclusions:
- Chronic reduction of DAT influences interval timing, mediated by D2 receptors.
- Increased motivation for reward in DAT KD mice may lower response initiation thresholds.
- Altered dopamine levels affect sensitivity to reward signals in timing behavior.
