Olfactory matching-to-sample in rats using a novel apparatus

UNCW Author/Contributor (non-UNCW co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Rhiannon D. Thomas (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW )
Web Site: http://library.uncw.edu/
Advisor
Mark Galizio

Abstract: The present study used a semi-automated device to test olfactory matching-to-sample in rats. The apparatus was a modified operant chamber with three nose ports that were covered with three independently-operating guillotine doors. The center door was opened to allow access to the sample scent and once the photo beam inside the nose port was broken for 2 s, the comparison doors were raised. In Experiment I, rats were trained on an identity matching-to-sample procedure using olfactory stimuli that were presented beneath the nose ports. This training continued until the performance criterion of 75% or higher accuracy over ten sessions was achieved. When the subject met the criterion, they were introduced to a novel set of five olfactory stimuli. In Experiment I, rats were exposed to the same set of stimuli throughout the entire experiment because the performance criteria were never met. In Experiment II, in which some procedural refinements were implemented, one subject (Z2) progressed through three MTS sets and showed some evidence of generalized matching, but the other two rats did not meet any of the matching criteria. These results suggest that response topography may be an important factor in conditional discrimination in rats.

Additional Information

Publication
Thesis
A Thesis Submitted to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Masters of Arts
Language: English
Date: 2009
Keywords
Rats--Research
Subjects
Rats -- Research

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