Role of animal research

Question 1

What are the three sub-headings under the role of animal research?

Answer 1

Value of animal models, ethical considerations and whether animal research can provide insight into human behaviour

Question 2

What are the three studies that illustrate the role of animal research?

Answer 2

Rozenweig, Bennett and Diamond, Butenandt and Rogers and Kesner

Question 3

Rogers and Kesner

Answer 3

Wanted to investigate the role of Ach during encoding and retrieval of spatial navigation. During the course of 2 experiments the male rats had cannulae surgically implanted into their brains to deliver chemicals to specific regions of the hippocampi and their ability to learn a simple maze was tested by running the maze in blocks of 5 with 2 each day. In experiment 1 some were injected with scopolamine, the rest saline, and in experiment 2 physostigmine.

Encoding was measured by comparing the errors made in the first 5 trials of one day with the final 5 trials of that day and retrieval was measured by comparing the errors made in the final 5 trials of one day with the first 5 of the next day.

1– Encoded less effectively than the control but when injected into CA3 had consolidated better.
2–Retrieval was less effective than the saline group but had encoded better.

Ach facilitates encoding(physostigmine encoded better) and inhibits consolidation to enable processing of information

Question 4

What is scopolamine?

Answer 4

Ach antagonist ( inhibits cholinergic transmission)

Question 5

What is physostigmine?

Answer 5

An Ach agonist ( enhances action of Ach)