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Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Individuals vary in how they respond to cues, or stimuli, in their surrounding environment. This variability is based, largely, on learned associations and the value attributed to such stimuli. However, we know from studies with rodents that there are inherent differences in how individuals learn about associative stimuli.
When rats are exposed to a Pavlovian conditioned approach procedure, in which a levercue is repeatedly paired with a food reward, some rats, sign-trackers, attribute incentive motivational value (i.e., incentive salience) to the lever-cue and, in turn, approach and interact with the cue upon its presentation. Other rats, goal-trackers, predominantly attribute predictive value to the lever-cue and upon its presentation go to the food cup to await reward delivery. Both sign- and goaltrackers learn the cue-reward relationship, but the value attributed to the cue differs. Relative to goal-trackers, sign-trackers are also more impulsive, more compulsive, exhibit attentional deficits, and are more likely to reinstate drug-seeking behavior (i.e., relapse).
These behavioral phenotypes also differ on a neurobiological level, with goal-trackers relying on dominant cortical control systems, and sign-trackers being driven by subcortical emotional and motivational systems. Thus, simply by characterizing rats based on Pavlovian conditioned approach behavior, we are capturing a neurobehavioral endophenotype of relevance to psychiatric disorders. In this talk I will present both published and unpublished data to illustrate how we can utilize these individual differences in behavior across species to uncover the neural mechanisms that contribute to deficits in inhibitory control that are characteristic of several psychiatric disorders.
Information on participating / attending:
Die Veranstaltung findet virtuell über MS Teams statt und ist kostenfrei. Für die Teilnahme können 2 Fortbildungseinheiten der Psychotherapeutenkammer Hamburg zuerkannt werden.
Date:
02/12/2026 18:00 - 02/12/2026 19:30
Event venue:
Am Kaiserkai 1
20457 Hamburg
Hamburg
Germany
Target group:
all interested persons
Email address:
Relevance:
transregional, national
Subject areas:
Information technology, Medicine, Psychology
Types of events:
Presentation / colloquium / lecture
Entry:
10/14/2025
Sender/author:
Larissa Host
Department:
Presse- und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit
Event is free:
yes
Language of the text:
English
URL of this event: http://idw-online.de/en/event80238
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