Delayed intensive acquisition training alleviates the lesion-induced place learning deficits after fimbria-fornix transection in the rat

TY - JOUR

T1 - Delayed intensive acquisition training alleviates the lesion-induced place learning deficits after fimbria-fornix transection in the rat

AU - Rytter, Hana Malá

AU - Rodriguez Castro, Maria

AU - Pearce, Hadley Leighton

AU - Kingod, Siff Camilla

AU - Nedergaard, Signe Kjær

AU - Scharff, Zakaryiah

AU - Zandersen, Maja

AU - Mogensen, Jesper

PY - 2012/3/22

Y1 - 2012/3/22

N2 - This study evaluates the effects of two learning paradigms, intensive vs. baseline, on the posttraumatic acquisition of a water maze based place learning task. Rats were subjected either to a control operation (Sham) or to a fimbria-fornix (FF) transection, which renders the hippocampus dysfunctional and disrupts the acquisition of allocentric place learning. All animals were administered 30 post-lesion acquisition sessions, which spanned either 10 or 30 days. The acquisition period was followed by a 7 day pause after which a retention probe was administered. The lesioned animals were divided into 3 groups: i) Baseline Acquisition Paradigm (BAP) once daily for 30 days starting 1 week post-surgery; ii) Early Intensive Acquisition Paradigm (EIAP) 3 times daily for 10 days starting 1 week post-surgery; and iii) Late Intensive Acquisition Paradigm (LIAP) 3 times daily for 10 days starting 3 weeks post-surgery. Within the control animals, one group followed the schedule of BAP, and one group followed the schedule of Intensive Acquisition Paradigm (IAP). All lesioned animals showed an impaired task acquisition. LIAP was beneficial in FF animals, in that it led to a better acquisition of the place learning task than the two other acquisition paradigms. The FF/EIAP group did not show improved acquisition compared to the FF/BAP group. The control animals were not differentially affected by the two learning schedules. The findings have implications for cognitive rehabilitation after brain injury and support the assumption that intensive treatment can lead to an improved learning, even when the neural structures underlying such a process are compromised. However, the timing of intensive treatment needs to be considered further.

AB - This study evaluates the effects of two learning paradigms, intensive vs. baseline, on the posttraumatic acquisition of a water maze based place learning task. Rats were subjected either to a control operation (Sham) or to a fimbria-fornix (FF) transection, which renders the hippocampus dysfunctional and disrupts the acquisition of allocentric place learning. All animals were administered 30 post-lesion acquisition sessions, which spanned either 10 or 30 days. The acquisition period was followed by a 7 day pause after which a retention probe was administered. The lesioned animals were divided into 3 groups: i) Baseline Acquisition Paradigm (BAP) once daily for 30 days starting 1 week post-surgery; ii) Early Intensive Acquisition Paradigm (EIAP) 3 times daily for 10 days starting 1 week post-surgery; and iii) Late Intensive Acquisition Paradigm (LIAP) 3 times daily for 10 days starting 3 weeks post-surgery. Within the control animals, one group followed the schedule of BAP, and one group followed the schedule of Intensive Acquisition Paradigm (IAP). All lesioned animals showed an impaired task acquisition. LIAP was beneficial in FF animals, in that it led to a better acquisition of the place learning task than the two other acquisition paradigms. The FF/EIAP group did not show improved acquisition compared to the FF/BAP group. The control animals were not differentially affected by the two learning schedules. The findings have implications for cognitive rehabilitation after brain injury and support the assumption that intensive treatment can lead to an improved learning, even when the neural structures underlying such a process are compromised. However, the timing of intensive treatment needs to be considered further.

KW - Faculty of Social Sciences

KW - hjerne

KW - Hjerneskade

KW - Rehabilitering

KW - Kognition

KW - træning

KW - Fimbria-fornix

KW - Rotte

KW - intensitet

KW - genoptræning

KW - place learning

KW - Hippocampus

KW - Dyremodel

KW - Hukommelse

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0006-8993

VL - 1445

SP - 40

EP - 51

JO - Brain Research

JF - Brain Research

ER -