PSY397H5 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Lightdark, Anatomical Terms Of Motion, Conditioned Place Preference
Document Summary
Chapter 4- rodent behavioural learning and memory models. Open field analysis and elevated plus maze performance. Open field analysis is used to measure the level of spontaneous motor activity and exploratory behaviour in an animal; The open field apparatus can also be used to assess habituation to the novel environment; over an extended period of time in the open field apparatus, the spontaneous motor behaviour decreases, a manifestation of habituation; Activity levels are evaluated by measurements of horizontal activity (movement across the field, vertical activity (rearing up onto hind legs), and total distance travelled during the testing session; Hypo or hyper activity can be a complication to the subsequent assessment of many different types of learned behaviour; Animals in an open arena or box exhibit thigmotaxis (wall hugging behaviour) when they are nervous or anxious; rodents will exhibit less thigmotaxis as they become acclimatized to the chamber;
