Archived Abstracts
The Effect of Caffeine on Memory Consolidation and Fear Conditioning In Zebrafish
Location
Memorial Ballroom, Hall Campus Center
Access Type
Open Access
Entry Number
32
Start Date
4-8-2020 12:00 PM
End Date
4-8-2020 1:15 PM
Department
Psychology
Abstract
Research has focused on the inhibitory and excitatory effects of caffeine on learning and memory in various animals using a variety of behavioral paradigms. Caffeine’s effects on memory, for example, have been measured though image recognition in humans, scent stimulation and proboscis extension in honeybees, and classical fear conditioning in rats and mice. There are no published studies, however, that have examined the effects of caffeine on classical fear conditioning in simple, non-mammalian vertebrates. The focus of the present research was to examine the effects of caffeine on memory consolidation following contextual fear conditioning in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio). Zebrafish were randomly assigned to receive caffeine (100mg/L aquarium water) or placebo for 15-min immediately following contextual fear conditioning, which consisted of three shocks (20 mA/3-sec duration) 60 seconds apart. Twenty-four hours later, conditioned fear responses were observed to the conditioning context (painted canary yellow) and a novel context (painted white with a blue, textured floor). Conditioned fear was operationally defined as the number of seconds freezing (i.e., the absence of movement except for gills and eyes). Results indicated that caffeine interfered with the consolidation of emotional (fear) memory compared to controls when drug was administered immediately after fear conditioning.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr Keith Corodimas
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The Effect of Caffeine on Memory Consolidation and Fear Conditioning In Zebrafish
Memorial Ballroom, Hall Campus Center
Research has focused on the inhibitory and excitatory effects of caffeine on learning and memory in various animals using a variety of behavioral paradigms. Caffeine’s effects on memory, for example, have been measured though image recognition in humans, scent stimulation and proboscis extension in honeybees, and classical fear conditioning in rats and mice. There are no published studies, however, that have examined the effects of caffeine on classical fear conditioning in simple, non-mammalian vertebrates. The focus of the present research was to examine the effects of caffeine on memory consolidation following contextual fear conditioning in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio). Zebrafish were randomly assigned to receive caffeine (100mg/L aquarium water) or placebo for 15-min immediately following contextual fear conditioning, which consisted of three shocks (20 mA/3-sec duration) 60 seconds apart. Twenty-four hours later, conditioned fear responses were observed to the conditioning context (painted canary yellow) and a novel context (painted white with a blue, textured floor). Conditioned fear was operationally defined as the number of seconds freezing (i.e., the absence of movement except for gills and eyes). Results indicated that caffeine interfered with the consolidation of emotional (fear) memory compared to controls when drug was administered immediately after fear conditioning.