Reward maximization assessed using a sequential patch depletion task in a large sample of heterogeneous stock rats.

Choice behavior requires animals to evaluate both short- and long-term advantages and disadvantages of all potential alternatives. Impulsive choice is traditionally measured in laboratory tasks by utilizing delay discounting (DD), a paradigm that offers a choice between a smaller immediate reward, or a larger more delayed reward. This study tested a large sample of Heterogeneous Stock (HS) male (n = 896) and female (n = 898) rats, part of a larger genetic study, to investigate whether measures of reward maximization overlapped with traditional models of delay discounting via the patch depletion model using a Sequential Patch Depletion procedure.

Reward Maximization Assessed Using a Sequential Patch Depletion Task in a Large Sample of Heterogeneous Stock Rats.

Choice behavior requires animals to evaluate both short- and long-term advantages and disadvantages of all potential alternatives. Impulsive choice is traditionally measured in laboratory tasks by utilizing delay discounting (DD), a paradigm that offers a choice between a smaller immediate reward, or a larger more delayed reward. This study tested a large sample of Heterogeneous Stock (HS) male (n = 896) and female (n = 898) rats, part of a larger genetic study, to investigate whether measures of reward maximization overlapped with traditional models of delay discounting via the patch depletion model using a Sequential Patch Depletion procedure.

Adolescent chronic unpredictable stress leads to increased anxiety and attention deficit/hyperactivity-like symptoms in adulthood.

Background: Early-life adversities during development (e.g., child abuse and neglect) are linked to multiple behavioral and cognitive dysfunctions, such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and anxiety disorders, which have high comorbidity.

Prenatal ethanol exposure impairs sensory processing and habituation to visual stimuli, effects normalized by enrichment of postnatal environmental.

Background: Individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) often show processing deficits in all sensory modalities. Using an operant light reinforcement model, we tested whether prenatal ethanol exposure (PE) alters operant responding to elicit a contingent sensory stimulus-light onset (turning on the light) and habituation to this behavior in rats. We also explored whether postnatal environmental enrichment could ameliorate PE-induced deficits.