Nilsson, S R O, Ripley, Tamzin, Somerville, E M and Clifton, P G (2012) Reduced activity at the 5-HT(2C) receptor enhances reversal learning by decreasing the influence of previously non-rewarded associations. Psychopharmacology, 224 (2). pp. 241-254. ISSN 0033-3158

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Abstract

Rationale
Reversal learning deficits are a feature of many human psychopathologies and their associated animal models and have recently been shown to involve the 5-HT2C receptor (5-HT2CR). Successful reversal learning can be reduced to two dissociable cognitive mechanisms, to dissipate associations of previous positive (opposed by perseverance) and negative (opposed by learned non-reward) valence.

Objectives
This study aims to explore the effect of reducing activity at the 5-HT2CR on the cognitive mechanisms underlying spatial reversal learning in the mouse.

Methods
Experiment 1 used the 5-HT2CR antagonist SB242084 (0.5 mg/kg) in a between-groups serial design, experiment 2 used 5-HT2CR KO mice in a repeated measures design. Animals initially learned to discriminate between two lit nosepoke holes. This was followed by three conditions; (1) full reversal, where contingencies reversed; (2) perseverance, where the previous CS+ became CS− and the previous CS− was replaced by a novel CS+; (3) learned non-reward, where the previous CS− became CS+ and the previous CS+ was replaced by a novel CS−.

Results
SB242084 treated and 5-HT2CR KO mice showed enhanced reversal learning seen as a decrease in trials, correct responses, and omissions to criterion in the full reversal condition. Similar effects were observed in the learned non-reward condition but SB242084 treated and 5-HT2CR KO mice did not differ from controls in the perseverance condition. SB242084 treated, but not 5-HT2CR KO mice, showed decreases in all latency indices in every condition.

Conclusion
Reducing activity at the 5-HT2CR facilitates reversal learning in the mouse by reducing the influence of previously non-rewarded associations

Item Type:	Article
Schools and Departments:	School of Life Sciences > Neuroscience
Subjects:	Q Science > QZ Psychology
Depositing User:	Liz Somerville
Date Deposited:	13 Nov 2012 13:30
Last Modified:	01 Apr 2017 05:10
URI:	http://srodev.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/42134

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