Selective immunolesioning of the basal forebrain cholinergic neurons in rats: effect on attention using the 5-choice serial reaction time task.

摘要: Abstract Rationale. Excitotoxic lesions of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (nbm) in rats produce deficits performance 5-choice serial reaction time (5CSRT) task, suggesting that basal forebrain cholinergic projections to neocortex play an important role visuospatial attention. However, non-selective damage induced by excitotoxins may have confounded interpretation specific contribution corticopetal neurons nbm attentional processes. Objective. The purpose present study was selective immunolesions order examine more precisely on a 5CSRT task. Methods. Rats received bilateral injections immunotoxin 192 IgG-saporin (0.067 µg/µl, 1 µl) into after baseline training Performance sham and lesion groups then assessed during increased task difficulty conditions. Results. Contrary results previously reported, accuracy responding behavioral inhibition were unaffected immunotoxin. with showed, however, significant increases omissions relative control rats, most markedly sessions signal detection, e.g., decreased stimulus intensity or duration. Magazine correct latencies unaffected, lesion-induced not due changes motivation. Omissions highly correlated percentage choline acetylcholine transferase depletion. Reduced premature responses also observed when target made less predictable. Conclusions. Although produced different array than these effects nevertheless are consistent system function, particular accurate timing presentation detection.