Primetime at BU Library Presents Edgren Scholars "The Effect of Social Housing on Learning Ability in a Rodent Model"

All animals learn. To learn is to survive. Scientists have long used animal models to study learning, as evidence indicates that learning operates through laws that are fairly universal. Most experiments study learning in singly-housed animals to allow for food restriction, motivating them to work (and learn) for food. However, it is well known that singly-housed animals experience this isolation as a significant psychological stressor, thereby making it difficult to understand how learning occurs in natural settings. The goal of this study is to compare the similarities and differences in animals who are pair-housed (and not food-restricted) with animals who are singly-housed (and food-restricted) when it comes to learning a working memory task. The researchers are hoping to come up with learning protocols that allow them to test for prefrontal functioning without putting animals in unnecessarily stressful situations.