Modelação temporal de processos de aprendizagem : Implicações praticas e teoricas

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

1999

RESUMO

Studies that analyze a temporal variation in learning and memory processes are relatively scattered and inconsistent, mainly due to the lack of systematic methods and specifications of the necessary controls that would allow the dissection of a temporal component in the learning process per se. Here we analyze the difficulties of this kind of study and suggest a few strategies that could help control some of the masking factors. Three studies were performed applying some of these strategies. In the first study we analyzed habituation to a novel environment in mice by quantifying ambulation in an open field through direct observation. Mice submitted to a light-dark cycle showed a diurnal rhythm in learning however, no temporal effect was observed in animals submitted to a skeleton photoperiod (tw015-minute bright light pulses separated by 12 h of green dim light). Under these conditions the masking effects of a light-dark cyc1e are avoided. These results demonstrate that the response to a novel environment is strongly affected by the illumination cycle, thus reinforcing the need for precise control and specification of this condition. When analyzing learning at different times of the day automation of behavioral sCO1:ing becomes essential due to the need for high frequency in data collection and testing which occurs around the clock. Therefore, a second study was performed where a computer-assisted system for scoring freezing behavior in mice during fear conditioning situations was validated. The computer measures obtained during fear conditioning tests showed high correlations with hand-scored freezing. Consequently, this data collection system was used in a third study where fear conditioning was analyzed during the active and inactive phases of mice submitted to a skeleton photoperiod. A significant difference in the expression and extinction rate of context-dependent fear conditioning was observed between mice trained and tested in the morning versus the evening. In contrast, no diurnal rhythm was detected for tone-cued fear conditioning. The biological clock may have a modulating effect on the hippocampal-dependent pathway which underlies context fear conditioning and no effect on the hippocampal-independent pathway underlying tone-fear conditioning

ASSUNTO(S)

camundongo habitação (neuropsicologia) cronobiologia condicionamento classico aprendizagem ritmos biologicos

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

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