 |
| Research article summary (published 29 Apr 2009): |
Learning strategies during fear conditioning.
Full Abstract
This paper describes a model of fear learning, in which subjects have an option of behavioral responses to impending social defeat. The model generates two types of learning: social avoidance and classical conditioning, dependent upon (1) escape from or (2) social subordination to an aggressor. We hypothesized that social stress provides the impetus as well as the necessary information to stimulate dichotomous goal-oriented learning. Specialized tanks were constructed to subject rainbow trout to a conditioning paradigm where the conditioned stimulus (CS) is cessation of tank water flow (water off) and the unconditioned stimulus (US) is social aggression from a larger conspecific. Following seven daily CS/US pairings, approximately half of the test fish learned to consistently escape the aggression to a neutral chamber through a small escape hole available only during the interaction. The learning curve for escaping fish was dramatic, with an 1100% improvement in escape time over 7 days. Fish that did not escape exhibited a 400% increase in plasma cortisol and altered brain monoamine response to presentation of the CS alone. Elevated plasma cortisol levels represent classical fear conditioning in non-escaping fish, while a lack of fear conditioning and a decreased latency to escape over the training period in escapers indicates learned escape.
Author information
Author/s: Carpenter, Russ E (RE); Summers, Cliff H (CH);
Affiliation: Department of Biology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA.
Journal and publication information
Publication Type: Journal Article
Journal: Neurobiology of learning and memory (Neurobiol Learn Mem), published in United States. (Language: eng)
Reference: 2009-May; vol 91 (issue 4) : pp 415-23
Dates: Created 2009/04/01; Completed 2009/05/26; Revised 2009/10/20;
PMID: 19340951, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/21/2009, IMS Date: 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00)
Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.
External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):
Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.
This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.
MeSH headings (categories)
This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.
Related articles
This article has not been indexed for related articles as yet, however you can still use the live related article search links below.
See a large map of 100+ related articles.