An Automated T-maze Based Apparatus and Protocol for Analyzing Delay- and Effort-based Decision Making in Free Moving...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Animal Behavior
• Experimental Psychology

Background:

• Neurological and psychiatric disorders often involve decision-making deficits.
• Rodent models are crucial for understanding the neurobiology of decision-making problems.
• Traditional T-maze tasks for decision-making are labor-intensive and prone to experimenter variability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a fully automated T-maze apparatus for evaluating rodent decision-making.
• To enable efficient assessment of both delay- and effort-based decision-making paradigms.
• To facilitate integrated neural recording and manipulation during decision-making tasks.

Main Methods:

• Invention of an automated T-maze system with automated pellet delivery, door management, and choice recording.
• Utilizing the automated T-maze to evaluate decision-making phenotypes in genetically modified mice.
• Implementing the system for both delay-based and effort-based cost-benefit decision-making tasks.

Main Results:

• The automated T-maze system successfully evaluated decision-making in rodents.
• Mice with ablated medial habenula exhibited aversion to both delay and effort, preferring immediate rewards.
• The system demonstrated reduced experimenter intervention and enhanced experimental efficiency.

Conclusions:

• The automated T-maze provides a robust and efficient platform for studying rodent decision-making.
• This technology aids in understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of decision-making deficits.
• The setup is compatible with advanced neurophysiological recording and manipulation techniques.