Two-action sequence reinforcement
Jonathan Tang
Disclaimer
The protocols.io team notes that research involving animals and humans must be conducted according to internationally-accepted standards and should always have prior approval from an Institutional Ethics Committee or Board.
Abstract
Two-action sequence reinforcement protocol for mouse studies from Tang et al 2023.
Steps
First reinforcement session+ Baseline
Mice were placed in a grey open-field behaviour recording for this protocol.
To acquire baseline behavior, individual mice were allowed to behave freely inside the box for 30 minutes when the laser stimulation was not available for reinforcement.
After initial behavior acquisition, 60 minutes of laser availability was given. During the
reinforcement periods, when the closed-loop system detects performance of the
proximal action (T1) of interest, the algorithm enters a state in which the
laser is triggered on performance of the distal action (T2), regardless of the
amount of time that has elapsed between the latest T1 and T2.
Remaining Sessions
90 minutes of closed loop reinforcement were made available for individual mice during subsequent sessions.
During the reinforcement periods, when the closed-loop system detects performance of the
proximal action (T1) of interest, the algorithm enters a state in which the
laser is triggered on performance of the distal action (T2), regardless of the
amount of time that has elapsed between the latest T1 and T2.
Extinction protocol
An extinction protocol was carried out comprising of 20-minute maintenance of reinforced behavior with laser availability, followed by 60 minutes of extinction of reinforced behavior without laser availability, followed by 20-minute re-acquisition of reinforced behavior with laser availability.
