Training and experimentation was conducted in six identical operant chambers (Med Associates) equipped with a pump that delivered a 20% sucrose solution and a pellet dispenser that delivered a single grain of pellet (Able Scientific) into the magazine (i.e., food receptacle) located in the middle of the side wall. The chamber also came equipped with two retractable levers, placed on either side of the magazine, a house light for illumination that was situated opposite the magazine, and a house fan which provided constant ∼70-dB background noise. MED-PC software controlled the insertion of levers, delivery of pellet and sucrose outcomes, and recorded the number of lever presses and magazine entries.
Identical operant chambers
Manufactured by Med Associates
Sourced in Sao Tome and Principe, United States
Identical operant chambers are laboratory equipment used for behavioral research. They are enclosed spaces designed to study and record the behavior of animals, such as rodents, in a controlled environment.
Automatically generated - may contain errors
7 protocols using identical operant chambers
1
Operant Conditioning Task in Rodents
2
Operant Chamber Instrumental Learning
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The balance between goal-directed and habitual behaviors was investigated by using two identical operant chambers (Med-Associates, St. Albans, VT), enclosed in sound attenuating boxes that were differentiated by contextual cues (15 mm wide multi-colored washi tape that was vertically and horizontally aligned on chamber walls to give a checkerboard-like pattern or clear plexiglass chamber walls). Each chamber was equipped with a pellet dispenser that delivered 20 mg food pellets (Bio-Serv, Flemington, NJ) into a recessed food magazine, two retractable levers on either side of the food magazine, a house light, a stainless-steel grid floor and an 8 input/16 output connection panel that serves as an interface between the chambers, and a computer that runs the MED-PC V software (Med-Associates, St. Albans, VT) to operate the experimental paradigms and record lever pressing behavior. Prior to training, mice were handled, and food restricted to 85–90% of their baseline body weight. Their body weights were maintained within this range during the entirety of the instrumental learning paradigm.
3
Operant Conditioning Chamber Setup
4
Operant Conditioning for Goal-Directed and Habitual Behavior
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The balance between goal-directed and habitual behaviors was investigated by using two identical operant chambers (Med-Associates, St. Albans, VT), enclosed in sound attenuating boxes that were differentiated by contextual cues (15 mm wide multi-colored washi tape that was vertically and horizontally aligned on chamber walls to give a checkerboard-like pattern or clear plexiglass chamber walls). Each chamber was equipped with a pellet dispenser that delivered 20 mg food pellets (Bio-Serv, Flemington, NJ) into a recessed food magazine, two retractable levers on either side of the food magazine, a house light, a stainless-steel grid floor and an 8 input/16 output connection panel that serves as an interface between the chambers, and a computer that runs the MED-PC V software (Med-Associates, St. Albans, VT) to operate the experimental paradigms and record lever pressing behavior. Prior to training, mice were handled, and food restricted to 85%–90% of their baseline body weight. Their body weights were maintained within this range during the entirety of the instrumental learning paradigm.
5
Operant Conditioning Chamber Setup
6
Operant Conditioning Paradigm in Rats
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Subjects were 6–10 iuGC and CONT experimentally naive rats, 3 months old at the start of the experiment. Rats had restricted access to water, with the bottles being removed from the home cages 90–60 min before the trainings and replaced 30–60 min after. The access to food was restricted to maintain the rats at ±85% of their free feeding weight.
Two identical operant chambers (Med associates, St. Albans, VT, USA) housed in light- and sound-attenuating boxes, were used in the experiment. Each chamber contained a central, recessed magazine that provided access to 45-mg food pellets (Bio-Serve, Frenchtown, NJ, USA) or 100 μl of sucrose solution (20% wt/vol in water) delivered by a pellet dispenser and a liquid dipper, respectively, and two retractable levers that were located on each side of the magazine. Magazine entries were measured automatically by an infrared beam located at the mouth of the magazine. A 1-kHz tone and an amplified white noise, each with a sound of 80 dB, where available as discrete auditory cues. A 2.8 W, 100 mA house light positioned at the top-center of the wall opposite to the magazine provided illumination. A computer equipped with Med-PC software (Med Associates) controlled the equipment and recorded the data.
Two identical operant chambers (Med associates, St. Albans, VT, USA) housed in light- and sound-attenuating boxes, were used in the experiment. Each chamber contained a central, recessed magazine that provided access to 45-mg food pellets (Bio-Serve, Frenchtown, NJ, USA) or 100 μl of sucrose solution (20% wt/vol in water) delivered by a pellet dispenser and a liquid dipper, respectively, and two retractable levers that were located on each side of the magazine. Magazine entries were measured automatically by an infrared beam located at the mouth of the magazine. A 1-kHz tone and an amplified white noise, each with a sound of 80 dB, where available as discrete auditory cues. A 2.8 W, 100 mA house light positioned at the top-center of the wall opposite to the magazine provided illumination. A computer equipped with Med-PC software (Med Associates) controlled the equipment and recorded the data.
7
Operant Conditioning with Restricted Feeding
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In preparation for instrumental training a restricted feeding schedule was introduced wherein animals were fed a ration of 12 g chow per rat, per day. Twelve identical operant chambers (Med-Associates, USA) were used for training and test procedures. The floor consisted of steel bars with top and sidewalls made of clear Plexiglas and end walls made of aluminum. Two retractable levers were located on one side of the chamber with a recessed magazine centered between them. A 3-W, 24-V house-light provided illumination. The left and right levers were assigned to earn grain pellets (45 mg, grain-based formula, Bioserv, USA) and 20% sucrose solution (w/vol; ~0.2 ml per reward) in a counterbalanced fashion. Devaluation pre-feeding was conducted in individual plastic cages with open wire tops. Rats were habituated to these cages prior to testing.
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