Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 30, 2025
Drosophila Passive Avoidance Behavior as a New Paradigm to Study Associative Aversive Learning
Published on: October 15, 2021
Rats conserve passive avoidance retention level throughout the light phase of diurnal cycle
Natalija Popović1, Nicanor Morales-Delgado2, Ernesto De la Cruz-Sánchez3
1Department of Human Anatomy and Psychobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain; Institute of Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB Pascual Parilla), Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
Abstract:
Emotions and memory formation are sensible to circadian rhythm. Here we study whether the time of day during the light phase of the diurnal cycle affects emotional memory in male Wistar rats using the passive avoidance (PA) test. Experiments were conducted at the beginning of Zeitgeber time (ZT) (ZT0.5-2), mid-time (ZT5-6.5), and end (ZT10.5-12) of the light period. Our results suggest that time of day has no impact on emotional response during acquisition trials, but slightly influences cognitive response during the 24-hour retention trial. Retention response was highest for ZT5-6.5, followed by ZT0.5-2, and lowest for ZT10.5-12.
