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Low cognitive competence as a vulnerability factor for behavioral despair in rats
Nilay Atesyakar1, Resit Canbeyli1, Gunes Unal1
1Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Boğaziçi University, 34342, Istanbul, Turkey.
Behavioural Processes
|March 14, 2020
Summary
Cognitive competence influences stress vulnerability. Rats with lower spatial memory skills showed more behavioral despair, suggesting a link between cognitive function and mood disorders.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Sciences
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Cognitive impairment is linked to depression, persisting even after remission.
- This suggests cognitive dysfunction may be an etiological factor, not just a symptom.
- Animal models are crucial for understanding the cognitive-affective link.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how cognitive competence affects stress response in Wistar rats.
- To explore the relationship between spatial memory and behavioral despair.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Y-Maze and radial arm maze for spatial memory assessment.
- Employed the forced swim test to measure behavioral despair.
- Compared stress response based on cognitive performance levels.
Main Results:
- Rats with lower cognitive competence in the Y-Maze showed increased vulnerability to behavioral despair.
- Cognitive competence in the radial arm maze did not correlate with despair.
- High cognitive competence conferred resilience to the forced swim test, regardless of task.
Conclusions:
- A nonlinear relationship exists between spatial memory performance and behavioral despair.
- Different types of cognitive functioning may differentially impact affective states.
- Cognitive competence may play a role in stress resilience and mood disorder vulnerability.
