Research article summary (published 26 Dec 2007):

Appetitive odor-cue conditioning attenuates the acoustic startle response in rats.

Full Abstract

We here show that a neutral odor previously paired with a positive emotional context is an effective stimulus for attenuating the acoustic startle response (ASR) in rats. Olfactory cues can, therefore, be effectively used in the startle probe procedure for appetitive conditioning. This cue-induced reduction in ASR is not related to attentional alterations or a more general arousal by odor presentation, the conditioned olfactory cue rather elicits a pleasant emotional state during which the ASR is inhibited. This odor conditioned "pleasure" attenuation of the startle response might, therefore, provide a new effective operational measure for the hedonic aspects of reward.

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Author information

Author/s: Schneider, Miriam (M); Spanagel, Rainer (R);

Affiliation: Central Institute of Mental Health (ZI), Department of Psychopharmacology, J5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany. miriam.schneider(-atsign-)zi-mannheim.de

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Behavioural brain research (Behav Brain Res), published in Netherlands. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-May; vol 189 (issue 1) : pp 226-30

Dates: Created 2008/03/18; Completed 2008/07/01;

PMID: 18243352, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Acoustic Stimulation Analysis of Variance Animals Appetitive Behavior - physiology Association Learning - physiology Conditioning, Classical - physiology

Cues Rats Rats, Wistar Reward Smell - physiology Startle Reaction - physiology

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