Kiyoko Koga

Reward-related neuronal activities in basal ganglia of domestic chicks

We aimed to reveal what is coded in the basal ganglia of domestic chicks. In the water-reinforced ‘go’ task, chicks learned to peck selectively at a colored bead in order to obtain a drop of water. Out of 38 units obtained, seven showed excitatory activities specifically during the reward period. In the food-reinforced go/no-go task, chicks learned to discriminate two colors to obtain mash food after a delay period. They also learned to ignore another color, which was not associated with a reward. Out of 27 units obtained, four showed excitatory activities during the cue period, specifically when a food reward was anticipated. LPO neurons may code qualities of the obtained rewards, and also chicks anticipation of the forthcoming rewards.

Lesions of the ventro-medial basal ganglia impair the reinforcement but not the recall of memorized color discrimination in domestic chicks

Effects of bilateral chemical lesions of the ventro-medial basal ganglia (lobus parolfactorius, LPO) were examined in 3-9-day-old domestic chicks. In experiment-1, chicks were trained to peck at a blue bead that was associated with drops of water as a reward. Addition of passive avoidance training using a bitter yellow bead resulted in highly selective pecking between blue and yellow. LPO lesion (given 3-5 h after training) did not impair the selectivity when chicks were tested 24 h afterwards, while the novel reinforcement using a red bead was severely impaired. In experiment-2, chicks were trained in a GO/NO-GO color discrimination task with food reward. Trained chicks received bilateral LPO lesions, and they were tested 48 h afterwards for the number of pecks and latency of the first peck in each trial. The LPO lesion did not impair the recall of memorized color discrimination in tests, while the chicks were severely deficient in post-operative novel training. These results confirm that: (1) bilateral LPO ablation does not interfere with selective pecking based on the memorized color cues; but (2) it impairs reinforcement in novel training. LPO is thus supposed to be involved in acquisition, rather than execution of memorized behaviors.

Accurate Visual Memory of Colors in Controlling the Pecking Behavior of Quail Chicks

Abstract Animals are predisposed to memorize specific features of objects they encounter, and to link them with behavioral outputs in a selective manner. In this study, we examined whether chicks memorize objects by colors, and how they exploit the memorized color cues for selective pecking in 1- to 2-days-old quail chicks (Coturnix japonica). Ball-shaped beads painted in green (G), yellowish green (YG) and the intermediate color (YGG) were used. Repetitive presentation of a bead (interval: 4.5 min) resulted in gradually fewer pecks (habituation). Subsequent presentation of a different color caused proportionately more pecks (dishabituation); e.g., after habituation to the G bead, the YG bead caused a stronger dishabituation than the YGG bead did. The dishabituation appeared symmetric; e.g., the YG bead caused as strong dishabituation after the G-habituation, as was caused by the G bead after the YG-habituation. Number of pecks could thus reveal the memory-based color perception in chicks. Similar discrimination of beads by memorized color cues was found after one-trial passive avoidance training, where chicks learned to avoid a bitter-tasting object without any differential pre-training experiences. However, proportion of the chicks that discriminated between different colors became progressively smaller at test 15 min, 1 hr, and 24 hr post-training. On the other hand, proportion of chicks that distinguished beads by non-color cues remained unchanged. Chicks may primarily form an accurate memory of colors, but gradually change the link between the color memory and the pecking behavior.

Expression of transcription factor ZENK (zif/268) in telencephalon of quail chicks after induced seizure and passive avoidance training.

Abstract Functional significance of an immediate early gene ZENK (zif/268) was examined in telencephalic regions (homologues of neocortex and basal ganglia) of newly-hatched quail chicks; hyperstriatum accessorium (HA), hyperstriatum ventrale (HV), neostriatum (N) and lobus parolfactorius (LPO). Chicks were trained by a green bead soaked either in a strong aversant (methylanthranilate, MeA), in a weak aversant (MeA diluted by ethanol, 1/3MeA), or in water. Chicks were then tested at 45–50 min post-training, and immediately processed for ZENK immunostaining. Neither the training condition (MeA, 1/3MeA, or water) nor the responses at test (recall or amnesia) significantly contributed to the immunopositive cell densities in all of these regions. On the other hand, single intraperitoneal injection of metrazole (CNS convulsant) induced a transient epileptiform seizure, and caused significantly enhanced ZENK expression in HV and LPO but not in HA and N. However, the metrazol-induced seizure did not interfere with the following passive avoidance training, and chicks successfully learned to avoid the aversive bead when tested at 24 hr subsequently. Among three groups of chicks (metrazol-treated, saline control, and untreated chicks), no significant differences were found in their responses at test (recall, generalized avoidance, or amnesia). These results suggest that enhanced ZENK expression may represent lasting neural activities, but may not be involved specifically in the passive avoidance memory formation.

Predisposed visual memory of shapes in quail chicks.

Abstract Newly hatched chicks will spontaneously peck at conspicuous objects in their field of view, and soon learn to distinguish between edible food particles and unpleasant tasting objects. To examine whether the selective pecking is based on the ability to memorize shapes, we analyzed pecking behavior of 1- to 2-days-old quail chicks (Coturnix japonica) by using ball- and triangle-shaped beads both painted in green. Repeated presentation of dry bead (either ball or triangle) resulted in a progressively fewer number of pecks (habituation). When chicks were tested by triangle after repeated presentation of ball, chicks showed a significant increase in the number of pecks at the triangle (dishabituation). On the other hand, when tested by ball after a series of triangle presentations, pecking frequency did not increase (no dishabituation). Chicks thus distinguished the triangle as a novel object after being habituated to ball, but did not respond to the ball after triangle. A similar asymmetry was found in one-trial passive avoidance task. Chicks were pre-trained by water-coated (neutral) triangle and then trained by methylanthranilate-coated (aversive) ball. In this case, most chicks learned to avoid the ball, and half of these successful learners pecked at the triangle; they distinguished triangle from ball. When chicks were pre-trained by neutral ball and trained by aversive triangle, on the other hand, most chicks did not distinguish the ball from triangle, and showed a generalized avoidance for both beads. Chicks may be innately predisposed to memorize a limited category of shapes such as ball, and associate them with selective avoidance.

Slowly developing potentiation in goldfish retino–tectal synapses is masked by prior stimulation; an in vitro study

Abstract Field potential responses to local electrical stimulation were analyzed in slices of goldfish optic tectum (OT) in vitro. The post-synaptic component of retino–tectal origin was suppressed by DNQX, suggesting glutamatergic field excitatory post-synaptic potential (fEPSP). Repetitive stimulation at 0.1 Hz for 30 min resulted in a slowly developing potentiation in the fEPSP in a population of slices examined. When stimulation at a lower frequency (0.017 Hz for 30 min) preceded the conditioning, the 0.1 Hz stimulation failed to induce the potentiation even though the 0.017 Hz stimulation by itself caused no lasting changes. Induction of the potentiation was partially blocked by AP5 (100 μM), suggesting an involvement of NMDA receptors, however the effect was not significant. We also examined a possible involvement of adenosine, which is supposed to be co-released with glutamate at synaptic terminals. Exogenously applied adenosine (200 μM) slowly depressed fEPSP, and the depression was blocked by DPCPX (A1 receptor antagonist: 400 nM) but not by DMPX (A2 antagonist: 4 μM). However, DPCPX failed to unmask the potentiation after low-frequency stimulation (0.017 Hz for 30 min). Moreover, the potentiability was not correlated with sensitivity to exogenous adenosine. The A1 depression may not underlie the masking effect.