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Visual Discrimination, Serial Reversal, and Extinction Learning in the mdx Mouse.
Price E Dickson1, Guy Mittleman2
1The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, United States.
Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
|September 24, 2019
Summary
Mice with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) showed faster visual learning but no changes in other cognitive tasks. These findings suggest DMD
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Animal Models
Background:
- Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a common neuromuscular disorder.
- Cognitive deficits in DMD patients are not fully understood.
- The mdx mouse model's cognitive profile is not well-characterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the cognitive effects of the mdx mutation using a touchscreen operant conditioning paradigm.
- To investigate visual discrimination, serial reversal, and extinction learning in mdx mice.
- To establish a translational model for cognitive research in DMD.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a touchscreen operant conditioning system for cognitive testing in mdx and wildtype mice.
- Developed equally salient visual stimuli for consistent task demands.
- Assessed visual discrimination, serial reversal, and extinction learning.
Main Results:
- Mdx mice demonstrated enhanced acquisition of visual discrimination learning compared to wildtype littermates.
- No significant differences were observed in serial reversal or extinction learning between groups.
- Cognitive performance was not influenced by impulsivity, motivation, or motor deficits in mdx mice.
Conclusions:
- The mdx mutation specifically impacts visual discrimination learning, not all cognitive functions.
- Cognitive effects in DMD models are task-specific and influenced by various factors.
- The touchscreen paradigm offers a valuable tool for translational cognitive research in DMD.
