Techniques in The Behavioral and Neural Sciences 

About: Techniques in The Behavioral and Neural Sciences is an academic journal. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Microdialysis & Gene. Over the lifetime, 259 publications have been published receiving 3066 citations.

Locomotor activity and exploration

Abstract: Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of locomotor activity and exploration. The analysis of the drug effects on general motor activity and exploratory behavior has been central to the field of behavioral pharmacology since its inception. In certain regard, the studies of motor activity form the very basis of the knowledge of drug effects on behavior. The term locomotor means movement from one location to another. In rodents, an important component of spatial exploration is locomotion, and this activity is one of the most prominent in the rat's repertoire of spontaneous behaviors. Although locomotion may be associated with exploration of an animal's environment, this behavior may not necessarily reflect true exploration. In other words, locomotor activity may be influenced by factors besides the drive to explore. In testing, the effects of drugs on spontaneous motor behaviors, it is important to be aware of this point. In this chapter, various theoretical ideas concerning exploration and general activity are considered. It addresses practical issues, such as what factors affect the measurement of exploration and motor behavior. The chapter describes specific methods and also discusses certain aspects of the experimental design.

Pavlovian drug conditioning

Abstract: Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of Pavlovian drug conditioning. Pavlovian conditioning mechanisms are known to play a role in producing two general kinds of changes in the behavior of drug-exposed organisms. First, they enable evocation of new behavioral or physiological responses by stimuli correlated with drug administration. Second, Pavlovian conditioning is also responsible, at least in part, for producing changes in the direct (unconditioned) behavioral/physiological responses to the drug in the presence of drug-predictive stimuli. The chapter presents a general introduction to Pavlovian drug conditioning, with an emphasis on the experimental procedures used to induce this kind of learning, the rationale behind these procedures, and methodological problems that can arise in implementation. The chapter describes the basic paradigm and also presents some of the reasons the investigators have been intrigued by this form of learning. Special attention is given to the design of Pavlovian drug conditioning studies and the importance of using appropriate controls for nonassociative influences on behavior. Although the primary emphasis of this chapter is methodological, some consideration is also given to conceptual/theoretical issues that have guided researchers in the choice and interpretation of the specific tests used to draw inferences about drug-induced learning.

The feasibility of repeated microdialysis for within-subjects design experiments: studies on the mesostriatal dopamine system

Abstract: Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the experimental studies on the mesostriatal dopamine system using repeated microdialysis technique It presents the experiments designed to characterize the effects of repeated microdialysis sampling in the mesostriatal dopamine (DA) system of rats The focus is on the feasibility of using within-subjects design microdialysis experiments to study the long-term consequences of repeated stimulant drug use on dopaminergic activity The chapter also discusses the acute effects of amphetamine (AMPH) on DA neurotransmission and the effects of repeated AMPH administration on the extracellular concentration of DA determined by between-subjects design microdialysis experiments It also presents an evaluation of within-subjects design experiments for studying the consequences of repeated stimulant use The results may be generally applicable to repeated microdialysis sampling for other purposes, and in other neural systems

Introduction to intracerebral microdialysis

Abstract: Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the concept of intracerebral microdialysis The idea of microdialysis is to mimic the passive function of a capillary blood vessel by perfusing a thin dialysis tube implanted into the tissue Microdialysis is a technique for both recovering and administering substances in a tissue The major features of microdialysis include: (1) it samples the extracellular fluid; (2) it can be performed locally in almost every organ and tissue of the body; (3) it can be performed in the intact tissue of the living, awake, and freely moving animal, distinguishing it from other preparations; and (4) it can be used for recovering and/or introducing endogenous and exogenous substances in the tissue In essence, a microdialysis probe is a push-pull cannula with a dialysis membrane applied over its tip Microdialysis has a real potential for studies in peripheral organs, including blood Microdialysis is also finding its use in nonmammalians, such as the Lamprey and in plants Microdialysis can easily bridge the gap between the animal model and man because of its simplicity and limited invasiveness Microdialysis is becoming a promising tool in pharmacokinetic and drug distribution studies in animals as well as man