Automated visual cognitive tasks for recording neural activity using a floor projection maze.

Neuropsychological tasks used in primates to investigate mechanisms of learning and memory are typically visually guided cognitive tasks. We have developed visual cognitive tasks for rats using the Floor Projection Maze(1,2) that are optimized for visual abilities of rats permitting stronger comparisons of experimental findings with other species. In order to investigate neural correlates of learning and memory, we have integrated electrophysiological recordings into fully automated cognitive tasks on the Floor Projection Maze(1,2).

Deficient visual sensitivity in schizotypal personality disorder.

Schizotypal personality disorder is a personality disorder in the schizophrenia spectrum, sharing genetic and neurobiologic characteristics with schizophrenia. Visual contrast detection, found to be abnormal in chronic schizophrenia, was investigated in schizotypal personality disorder (SPD). Since dopamine in the retina enhances visual contrast detection and SPD patients have relatively reduced dopaminergic activity in the brain compared to schizophrenia patients, it was hypothesized that SPD patients would have decreased to normal contrast sensitivity.