Barnard Ilne L, Onofrychuk Timothy J, McElroy Dan L, Howland John G
Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
Curr Protoc. 2021 Sep;1(9):e238. doi: 10.1002/cpz1.238.
The TUNL task is an automated touchscreen task used to evaluate the cognitive processes involved in working memory (WM) and spatial pattern separation in rodents. Both rats and mice can be used. To elicit working memory processes, the rodent must distinguish between a sample (familiar) light stimulus and a novel light stimulus after a delay. With a correct selection, the rodent will receive a food reward. A major benefit of TUNL compared to other similar tasks is the circumvention of spatial "mediating strategies" that the rodent may use to supplement or replace working memory processes to complete the task successfully. Each trial is 'unique', as the stimuli are pseudo-randomized between trials in an array of spatial locations. The TUNL task uses a progression of six training steps to teach the rodent the associated rules necessary to complete the full task. Task performance is typically measured by trials completed and by accuracy. Task accuracy can be evaluated across various spatial separations to engage hippocampal-dependent processes involved in spatial pattern separation. The latency between trial responses can also be evaluated, with food reward collection latency as a measure of motivation. The TUNL task can be used to assess working memory and cognitive deficits in rodent models with neurodegenerative and neurological disorders, providing a valuable tool to screen for new treatment options, in addition to assessing basic neurobiology. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Handling and habituation prior to training Basic Protocol 2: Initial Touch Training Basic Protocol 3: Must Touch Training Basic Protocol 4: Must Initiate Training Basic Protocol 5: Punish Incorrect Training Basic Protocol 6: Initial TUNL Training Basic Protocol 7: Full TUNL Training Support Protocol 1: Using ABET II touch program Support Protocol 2: Preparation of touchscreen chambers prior to training sessions.
TUNL任务是一种用于评估啮齿动物工作记忆（WM）和空间模式分离所涉及认知过程的自动化触摸屏任务。大鼠和小鼠均可使用。为了引发工作记忆过程，啮齿动物必须在延迟后区分样本（熟悉的）光刺激和新的光刺激。做出正确选择后，啮齿动物将获得食物奖励。与其他类似任务相比，TUNL的一个主要优点是避免了啮齿动物可能用来补充或替代工作记忆过程以成功完成任务的空间“中介策略”。每次试验都是“独特的”，因为刺激在一系列空间位置的试验之间是伪随机的。TUNL任务使用六个训练步骤的进程来教导啮齿动物完成完整任务所需的相关规则。任务表现通常通过完成的试验次数和准确性来衡量。可以在各种空间间隔中评估任务准确性，以涉及参与空间模式分离的海马依赖过程。试验反应之间的潜伏期也可以评估，以食物奖励收集潜伏期作为动机的衡量指标。TUNL任务可用于评估患有神经退行性和神经系统疾病的啮齿动物模型中的工作记忆和认知缺陷，除了评估基础神经生物学外，还提供了一个筛选新治疗方案的有价值工具。©2021威利期刊有限责任公司。基本方案1：训练前的处理和适应基本方案2：初始触摸训练基本方案3：必须触摸训练基本方案4：必须启动训练基本方案5：惩罚错误训练基本方案6：初始TUNL训练基本方案7：完整TUNL训练支持方案1：使用ABET II触摸程序支持方案2：训练前触摸屏室的准备。
