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Ovarian hormones influence olfactory cue effects on reentrainment in the diurnal rodent, Octodon degus.

Octodon degus, a social hystricomorph rodent, responds to olfactory cues from a gonadally intact female entrained to a light-dark cycle (LD) by accelerating reentrainment of running wheel activity following a 6-h phase advance of the LD cycle. In this study, we examined the role of ovarian hormones in the production of and responsiveness to olfactory social cues in females. Experiment 1: intact females were sequentially phase-advanced 6 h with photic cues alone, or in the presence of an intact female donor, ovariectomized (OVX) donor, a castrated male, or a castrated male with testosterone replacement. Acceleration of reentrainment occurred only in the presence of the intact female donor while reentrainment was delayed by OVX donors. Experiment 2: OVX females undergoing a 6-h phase advance did not accelerate reentrainment in the presence of an intact female donor compared to reentrainment with photic cues alone. Thus, ovarian hormones are necessary for both the production of and responsiveness to olfactory cues. Experiment 3: OVX females implanted with estrogen-filled Silastic capsules did not accelerate reentrainment following the 6-h phase advance in the presence of an intact donor, whereas animals implanted with a combination of estrogen- and progesterone-filled capsules (Experiment 4) reduced the length of time needed to reentrain in the presence of an intact donor. Therefore, combined progesterone and estrogen are sufficient for responsiveness to the effective olfactory cue in intact donor females. These data clarify that the sex difference in sensitivity to non-photic odor effects on circadian reentrainment is caused by both the testosterone's inhibitory effects (Octodon degus. J. Biol. Rhythms 18 (2003) 43-50) and the enhancing effects of progesterone and estrogen.

Animals↗

Phonotactic cues for segmentation of fluent speech by infants.

There is growing evidence that infants become sensitive to the probabilistic phonotactics of their ambient language sometime during the second half of their first year. The present study investigates whether 9-month-olds make use of phonotactic cues to segment words from fluent speech. Using the Headturn Preference Procedure, we found that infants listened to a CVC stimulus longer when the stimulus previously appeared in a sentential context with good phonotactic cues than when it appeared in one without such cues. The goodness of the phonotactic cues was estimated from the frequency with which the C.C clusters at the onset and offset of a CVC test stimulus (i.e. C.CVC.C) are found within and between words in child-directed speech, with high between-word probability associated with good cues to word boundaries. A similar segmentation result emerged when good phonotactic cues occurred only at the onset (i.e. C.CVC.C) or the offset (i.e. C.CVC.C) of the target words in the utterances. Together, the results suggest that 9-month-olds use probabilistic phonotactics to segment speech into words and that high-probability between-word clusters are interpreted as both word onsets and word offsets.

Attention↗

Surface orientation from texture: ideal observers, generic observers and the information content of texture cues.

Perspective views of textured, planar surfaces provide a number of cues about the orientations of the surfaces. These include the information created by perspective scaling of texture elements (scaling), the information created by perspective foreshortening of texels (foreshortening) and, for textures composed of discrete elements, the information created by the effects of both scaling and foreshortening on the relative positions of texels (position). We drive a general form for ideal observers for each of these cues as they appear in images of spatially extended textures, (e.g. those composed of solid 2-D figures). As an application of the formulation, we derive a set of 'generic' observers which we show perform near optimally for images of a broad range of surface textures, without special prior knowledge about the statistics of the textures. Using simulations of ideal observers, we analyze the informational structure of texture cues, including a quantification of lower bounds on reliability for the three different cues, how cue reliability varies with slant angle and how it varies with field of view. We also quantify how strongly the reliability of the foreshortening cue depends on a prior assumption of isotropy. Finally, we extend the analysis to a naturalistic class of textures, showing that the information content of textures particularly suited to psychophysical investigation can be quantified, at least to a first-order approximation. The results provide an important computational foundation for psychophysical work on perceiving surface orientation from texture.

Cues↗

Optimal integration of texture and motion cues to depth.

We report the results of a depth-matching experiment in which subjects were asked to adjust the height of an ellipse until it matched the depth of a simulated cylinder defined by texture and motion cues. In one-third of the trials the shape of the cylinder was primarily given by motion information, in another one-third of the trials it was given by texture information, and on the remaining trials it was given by both sources of information. Two optimal cue combination models are described where optimality is defined in terms of Bayesian statistics. The parameter values of the models are set based on subjects' responses on trials when either the motion cue or the texture cue was informative. These models provide predictions of subjects' responses on trials when both cues were informative. The results indicate that one of the optimal models provides a good fit to the subjects' data, and the second model provides an exceptional fit. Because the predictions of the optimal models closely match the experimental data, we conclude that observers' cue-combination strategies are indeed optimal, at least under the conditions studied here.

Contrast Sensitivity↗

The D3 antagonist PNU-99194A potentiates the discriminative cue produced by the D3 agonist 7-OH-DPAT.

Based on correlations between potencies of various dopamine D2/D3 agonists to substitute for the 7-OH-DPAT discriminative cue and their in vitro (mitogenesis test) potencies, it has been suggested that the 7-OH-DPAT cue is mediated by activity at the D3 subtype. We sought to verify that the 7-OH-DPAT cue could be blocked by PNU-99194A, a commercially available preferential D3 antagonist. Rats were trained (FR10 two-lever, food-reinforced schedule) to press one lever following 7-OH-DPAT (0.1 mg/kg i.p.) and the other lever following saline. Rats were then tested with various doses of 7-OH-DPAT alone or in combination with PNU-99194A. 7-OH-DPAT (0.003 to 0.3 mg/kg) engendered dose-dependent substitution; PNU-99194A (1 to 10 mg/kg) failed to antagonize the cue induced by 0.1 mg/kg of 7-OH-DPAT and, at 10 mg/kg, given in combination with 0.003 to 0.1 mg/kg of 7-OH-DPAT, PNU-99194A markedly shifted the 7-OH-DPAT dose-effect curve to the left, i.e., potentiated the 7-OH-DPAT cue. If PNU-99194A is a preferential D3 antagonist, the present data do not confirm the previous hypothesis that the 7-OH-DPAT cue is mediated by the D3 subtype.

Animals↗

Cue and context conditioning of defensive behaviors to cat odor stimuli.

Exposure of rats to a cat odor block in a previously familiarized situation was followed by three extinction days to the same or a different situation, and with or without an identical but odor-free block, and, testing in the original apparatus with an odor-free block (cue). Initial exposure produced risk assessment (stretch attend), avoidance of the block, and crouch/freeze with sniffing/head movements. Avoidance continued during extinction, but context-only exposed rats showed predominantly crouch/freeze with sniff/head movements, while rats exposed to the context+cue showed higher levels of stretch attend. During the test day, rats exposed to the cue during extinction showed reduced defensive responding compared to those not extinguished with the cue, but context extinction had less effect, possibly due in part to initial familiarization with the situation. These data indicate that both cue and context conditioning to cat odor did occur, and that the type of conditioned stimulus (context-only vs. context+cue) influenced the type of defensive behaviors elicited by this stimulus, although the all animals received the same conditioning protocol. Particular behaviors disappeared at different rates during extinction, with avoidance the most persistent. However, in this context there was no incentive for approach behaviors inconsistent with avoidance, and stretch attend behaviors could and did occur while subjects were located far from the block or the area in which it had been encountered. In addition, immobile crouch/freeze did not occur at higher than control levels, while the crouch/freeze activities that did increase incorporated sensory sampling in a relevant modality (sniffing/head movements). Thus, the behaviors seen to the conditioned stimulus appeared to reflect combinations of different defense strategies, appropriate to the type of conditioned stimulus and responsive to its extinction. Differences between these data and those from studies using fecal predator odorants suggest that the latter may not elicit a complete range of conditioned defenses.

Aggression↗

Place navigation in the Morris water maze under minimum and redundant extra-maze cue conditions.

Complex relational processes underlying place navigation learning were analyzed by minimizing the relational elements available to rats. The animals navigated in a standard water maze in darkness using controlled remote visual cues (back-lit shapes in opaque buckets aimed at the pool to keep the background dark) while being tracked by an infrared camera and computer. Learning was similar with 2 (AB) or 4 (ABCD) cues and as good as in a fully lit room with many cues (asymptotic escape time t = 5-7 s). The ABCD-trained rats were not impaired by removal of any 2 cues (t = 7). For AB-trained rats, adding 2 new cues (ABEF) or replacing AB with EF (EF) caused small (t = 11) or big disruptions (t = 20), respectively. By block 2, both groups (ABEF, EF) returned to asymptotic performance. But testing the ABEF rats on block 2 with only EF indicated that EF was learned (t = 12) but not as well as when only EF was present (t = 5). Thus transfer from a redundant to a minimal cue condition is immediate and easier than vice versa. Theoretical implications are discussed.

Association Learning↗

Early postnatal protein malnutrition affects learning and memory in the distal but not in the proximal cue version of the Morris water maze.

Learning and memory of early postnatal protein malnourished rats were investigated in the Morris water maze. During the lactation period (21 days) each litter (mother plus six male and two female pups) was provided with 16% (well-nourished) or 6% (malnourished) protein diets. After weaning, rats remained on the same diet until 49 days of age. From day 50 on all animals were fed a commercial lab chow. Experiments started on day 70. In experiment I (proximal cue version) the animals were trained to escape from water to a visible platform (3 cm above the water level) in six trials daily for four consecutive days, completing 24 trials. In experiment II (distal cue version) the animals were trained to escape from water to a submerged platform using the same procedure as in experiment II. After the 24th trial, the platform was removed and the animals were submitted to a 60-s trial (probe trial). Seven and twenty-eight days after training, the retention test was conducted in one 180-s trial. The results showed no impairment of the learning or memory of malnourished animals tested in the proximal cue version but an increased latency and distance traveled to find the submerged platform in the distal cue version of the procedure. In the distal cue version the malnourished animals also showed increased latency to find the platform 7 and 28 days after the test training. No difference due to diet was found in the probe trial test indicating that, once the task is acquired, malnourished rats can manage extra-maze cues as easily as well-nourished rats. It is suggested that the present results can be due to alterations produced by protein malnutrition in the hippocampal formation or also to reflect the higher emotionality of rats following early malnutrition, specially considering the fact that postnatally malnourished animals are more reactive to unpleasant or aversive stimuli as cold water.

Animals↗

Experimental manipulation of a unique cue in Pavlovian SCR conditioning with humans.

We report two experiments on positive and negative patterning in human skin conductance response (SCR) conditioning with a manipulable unique cue. In experiment 1 flashing red lights, arrayed horizontally, were used as elements and apparent movement was used as additional (unique) cue when the elements were presented in compound. Positive and negative patternings were both acquired readily, and positive patterning transferred to new stimuli (green lights, vertically arrayed). The unique cue did not influence these outcomes. Experiment 2 examined only positive patterning, using a more conventional unique cue, a visual frame that surrounded the letter stimuli on compound trials but not on element trials. The unique cue again facilitated neither acquisition nor transfer. These results do not support either the unique cue extension of the Rescorla-Wagner theory or configural theories. Human participants seem to utilize 'size' or 'number' or some other abstract feature in preference to available concrete stimuli.

Adult↗

A common profile of prefrontal cortical activation following exposure to nicotine- or chocolate-associated contextual cues.

Conditioning and learning factors are likely to play key roles in the process of addiction and in relapse to drug use. In nicotine addiction, for example, contextual cues associated with smoking can be powerful determinants of craving and relapse, even after considerable periods of abstinence. Using the detection of the immediate-early gene product, Fos, we examined which regions of the brain are activated by environmental cues associated with nicotine administration, and compared this profile to the pattern induced by cues associated with a natural reward, chocolate. In the first experiment, rats were treated with either nicotine (0.4 mg/ml/kg) or saline once per day for 10 days in a test environment distinct from their home cages. In the second experiment, rats were given access to either a bowl of chocolate chips or an empty bowl in the distinct environment for 10 days. After a 4-day interval, rats were re-introduced to the environment where they previously received either nicotine treatment or chocolate access. Nicotine-associated sensory cues elicited marked and specific activation of Fos expression in prefrontal cortical and limbic regions. Moreover, exposure to cues associated with the natural reward, chocolate, induced a pattern of gene expression that showed many similarities with that elicited by drug cues, particularly in prefrontal regions. These observations support the hypothesis that addictive drugs induce long-term neuroadaptations in brain regions subserving normal learning and memory for motivationally salient stimuli.

Animals↗

Failure of ritanserin to block cocaine cue reactivity in humans.

As part of a double-blind placebo-controlled study of the effects of ritanserin on cocaine use and craving, reactivity to cocaine-related events was assessed both before and during medication. Twenty-two patients receiving ritanserin and 23 receiving placebo were exposed to cocaine cues while continuous measures of heart rate, skin temperature, and skin resistance were taken. Self-reports of high, withdrawal, and craving were also collected. The cues produced significant physiological responding as well as significant increases in high and craving during both sessions. Ritanserin reduced cue-elicited decreases in skin temperature, but had no effect on heart rate and skin resistance or on cue-induced high and craving. The results demonstrate that cue reactivity is a robust phenomenon across two assessment sessions but fail to support the use of ritanserin as a means of reducing cue-elicited drug states.

Arousal↗

Effects of alcohol cues on cognitive processing in heavy and light drinkers.

The effects of alcohol-related visual cues on cognitive processing in heavy and light social drinkers were assessed. Participants were exposed to either alcohol or control cues while they completed a cognitively demanding emotional Stroop task that used alcohol-related and control words as potential distracters. Heavy drinkers exposed to alcohol cues had significantly slower reaction times on the Stroop task than: (a) heavy drinkers exposed to control cues; and (b) light drinkers exposed to either alcohol or control cues. Results indicate that the effects of alcohol cues on automatic cognitive processes previously found in dependent drinkers' also occur in social drinkers. The magnitude of these effects varies directly with social drinkers' level of habitual alcohol use.

Adult↗

Mood state and recent cocaine use are not associated with levels of cocaine cue reactivity.

Eighty-one cocaine-dependent outpatients were assessed for their reactions to cocaine-related cues in a laboratory setting. All subjects contributed a urine sample prior to the session. Compared with non-drug control cues, the cocaine stimuli produced increases in physiological arousal, self-reports of high, craving, and withdrawal, and self-reports of negative mood. Subjects who tested cocaine-positive on the day of testing differed only in skin resistance responding from those who tested cocaine-negative. Changes in cue-induced physiological and self-report measures were also not associated with between-subject variations in mood as measured by the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire administered prior to cue assessment. Thus, variations in baseline mood and recent cocaine use history do not introduce an additional source of variability in cue reactivity measurements. However, negative mood states at the start of a session were associated with higher levels of self-reported craving, high, and withdrawal both before and after cue exposure.

Adult↗

Encoding predicted outcome and acquired value in orbitofrontal cortex during cue sampling depends upon input from basolateral amygdala.

Certain goal-directed behaviors depend critically upon interactions between orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and basolateral amygdala (ABL). Here we describe direct neurophysiological evidence of this cooperative function. We recorded from OFC in intact and ABL-lesioned rats learning odor discrimination problems. As rats learned these problems, we found that lesioned rats exhibited marked changes in the information represented in OFC during odor cue sampling. Lesioned rats had fewer cue-selective neurons in OFC after learning; the cue-selective population in lesioned rats did not include neurons that were also responsive in anticipation of the predicted outcome; and the cue-activated representations that remained in lesioned rats were less associative and more often bound to cue identity. The results provide a neural substrate for representing acquired value and features of the predicted outcome during cue sampling, disruption of which could account for deficits in goal-directed behavior after damage to this system.

Amygdala↗

Smoking as a cue for subjective and behavioral responses to a stressor.

Smoking in conjunction with a repeated stressor may come to serve as a cue, or discriminative stimulus, for responses to the stressor. This study examined the effects of omitting a previously predictable smoking cue on subjective and behavioral responses to a stressor. Male smokers were instructed to smoke briefly on command immediately prior to ("smoke-pre", n = 10) or several minutes after ("smoke-post", n = 10) each of four acquisition trials of a mental arithmetic task. During two subsequent trials, both groups first engaged in the task without the smoking cue (Test Trial 1), a novel experience for smoke-pre, and then engaged in the task preceded by the smoking cue (Test Trial 2), a novel experience for smoke-post. Omission of the smoking cue during Test Trial 1 produced significantly poorer task performance and greater subjective stress in smoke-pre. Although not significant, insertion of the smoking cue during Test Trial 2 tended to produce poorer performance in smoke-post. Thus, a consistent pattern of smoking in association with a repeated stressor may subsequently lead to impaired responding to the stressor if smoking is omitted.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Knowing when you're drunk: a cluster analysis of cues to intoxication.

The present study was conducted to determine what cues to intoxication untrained subjects report using and how subjects see relationships among these cues. One hundred subjects were asked to list 5 cues that they use to determine their level of intoxication. These responses were tabulated, and the 18 most frequent responses were retained for further analyses. To assess the relationships among cues, all possible pairs of cues were rated for similarity. Mean similarity ratings were collapsed across subjects to form a mean similarities matrix that was subjected to cluster analysis. A taxonomy of cues to intoxication is discussed.

Adult↗

Chemo-orientation using conspecific chemical cues in the stripe-necked terrapin (Mauremys leprosa).

Although chemical communication has been studied intensively in may reptilian species, little attention has been paid to the role that chemical signals play in aquatic reptiles, such as freshwater turtles. Here, I tested the hypothesis that the stripe-necked terrapin (Mauremys leprosa), an abundant freshwater turtle that inhabits the Iberian peninsula, is able to recognize chemical cues from conspecifics in the water and to modify its behavior in response to such cues. I compared the time spent by adult males and adult females in clean water to the time spent in water that presumably contained their own odor, odor from other males, and odor from other females, both during and outside the mating season. Results show that outside the mating season, both males and females avoid water that contains chemical cues from conspecifics of the opposite sex. During the mating season, male turtles clearly select water with chemical cues from females. Moreover, males prefer to occupy water from their home containers over clean water, and avoid water with chemical cues from other conspecific males. Conversely, during the mating season, females prefer to occupy water with chemical cues from other females, but do not select water from their home containers or water from males. The evolution of chemical communication in turtles, its relation to sexual selection processes, and the implications for turtle behavior are discussed.

Animal Communication↗

Timber rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) use chemical cues to select ambush sites.

Chemicals left by organisms moving through the environment are used by other organisms to mediate interspecific interactions. Most studies of chemical eavesdropping focus on prey responding to chemical cues from predators, despite the fact that chemical cues are frequently used by predators as a source of information about prey. Crotalus horridus uses a foraging strategy that is widespread among sedentary predators: the snake chooses a site where it is likely to encounter prey and remains immobile for many hours. I investigated this ambush hunting behavior in captive-raised timber rattlesnakes and provide evidence that sit-and-wait predators may discriminate among prey chemical cues, even when they have no prior experience with the prey. Snakes explored chemical cues with chemosensory behaviors, and more frequently adopted a stereotyped ambush foraging posture toward chemical cues from prey sympatric with their population of origin than either allopatric prey or sympatric nonprey species that are eaten by other viperids. These results support the notion that intra- and interspecific variation in diet may be mediated proximally by innate recognition of cues from particular prey items. This system also describes a bioassay that may be used in the isolation and identification of prey-derived kairomones. Studies such as this can be used to determine more realistic parameters for models of predator-prey interaction and foraging behavior that involve secretive, less active predators.

Animals↗