Journal: The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience

Article Title: Attenuating GABA A Receptor Signaling in Dopamine Neurons Selectively Enhances Reward Learning and Alters Risk Preference in Mice

doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1715-11.2011

Figure Lengend Snippet: β3-KO mice have enhanced learning but normal extinction and reversal and learn normally from aversive stimuli. A, β3-KO mice (n=22) learned better than controls (n=23) in an instrumental conditioning task (two-way ANOVA, genotype × session, F(9, 387) = 2.74, **p<0.01). B, β3-KO mice (n=7) learn better than controls (n=7) in an appetitive t-maze (two-way ANOVA, genotype × session, F(9, 108) = 2.05, *p<0.05). C, β3-KO (n=9) and control (n=9) mice extinguish instrumental responding at the same rate. D, Reversal learning in the t-maze was equivalent for control (n=7) and KO mice (n=7). E, β3-KO mice (n=7) and control (n=7) mice have the same level of context-induced freezing in a contextual fear-conditioning paradigm using a footshock. F, β3-KO mice (n=4) learn the same as controls (n=4) to escape a footshock that was preceded by a tone in a two-way active avoidance task (20-trial bins; 1 session × day).

Article Snippet: Contextual learning was assessed the next day by placing the animals back into the chamber and monitoring freezing for 3 min. Two-way active avoidance Male mice were individually placed into a two-chamber active avoidance apparatus with free access to both chambers (PACS-30, Columbus Instruments).

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