Transcript Distinct Components of Spatial Learning Revealed by Prior Training

Summary of: Distinct Components of
Spatial Learning Revealed by Prior
Training and NMDA Receptor Blockade
Presentation By:
Carmine Ciccone
Spencer Jenkyns
Jared Kunar
Brooke MacKinnon
Malcolm Pilgrim
Brooke MacKinnon
Overview
 Four experiments to come to an accurate




conclusion
What is Spatial Learning?
How does the Hippocampus play a role in
spatial learning?
What is an LTP?
What role do NMDA receptors play in LTP?
Brooke MacKinnon
Experiment 1
Methods
 Lister rats had to complete a Morris Water
Maze test
 Rats were affixed with minipumps and
divided into two groups: AP5 and aCSF
 One trial per day and could not complete
transfer tests
Brooke MacKinnon
Experiment 1
Results
 AP5 prevents learning
 ~20µM of AP5 required to block NMDA
receptors
Brooke MacKinnon
Experiment 1
Conclusion
 AP5 has an affect on learning the task
Malcolm Pilgrim
Experiment 2
Method
 Rats were trained to complete a Morris Water
Maze task in a training room
 Minipumps with either AP5 and aCSF were
added to the test rats and control rats
respectively
 Rats were tested in a different room than
they were trained
Malcolm Pilgrim
Experiment 2
Results
 Rats that received AP5 were still able to learn
 Learning was slower than control group
 Both control and test rats always looked into the
same quadrants as they were trained
Malcolm Pilgrim
Experiment 2
Conclusions
 Spatial pre-training ameliorated AP5 deficit
 The level of AP5 given was enough for the
prevention of LTP
 Was not solely a drug disruption
Malcolm Pilgrim
Experiment 3
Method
 Three groups of rats were made:
 Ibutenic acid lesioned group
 Sham surgery group
 Control group
 Rats were trained in a separate room from
where they were tested in
Malcolm Pilgrim
Experiment 3
Results
 Lesioned induced deficit in escaped latency
and transferred test performance was
apparent.
Malcolm Pilgrim
Experiment 3
Conclusion
 Spatial learning is dependant of the
hippocampus in this task
Carmine Ciccone
Experiment 4
Method
 Curtains were placed around the Morris
Water Maze to prevent the rats from using
outside cues
 Platform was placed in different locations
within the water maze
 Repetition of experiment 1
Carmine Ciccone
Experiment 4
Results
 The AP5 Defecit returned
Carmine Ciccone
Experiment 4
Conclusion
 Non-spatial learning is not sufficient to
prevent the AP5 deficit.
Carmine Ciccone
Conclusions
 Rats that were not pre-trained with AP5
showed no evidence of learning
 Rats with non-spatial pre-training showed an
intermediate amount of learning with AP5
 Rats with spatial pre-training largely
ameliorated the learning deficit
References
 Title Slide Image:
http://www.6seconds.org/imagesstatic/neuron.jpg
 All graphs taken from:
Bannerman, D. M., Good, M. A., Butcher, S.
P., Ramsay, M., & Morris, R. G. M. (1995).
Distinct components of spatial learning
revealed by prior training and NMDA receptor
blockade. Nature, 378,182-186.