Dynamic neuronal activity of cerebellar cortex during trace eyeblink conditioning in mice

Abstract

Objective To investigate the dynamic changes of neuronal activity in the cerebellar cortex during the acquisition of trace eyeblink conditioning (tEBC) in mice. Methods A 150-ms pulse of blue light conditioned stimulus (CS) followed by a 100-ms air-puff unconditioned stimulus (US) with a 250-ms trace interval for 5 consecutive training days was performed to train the mice (n=6) to establish tEBC. During daily tEBC training, the neuronal activities in the cerebellar cortex were continuously recorded by tetrode electrodes. Results During the acquisition of tEBC, the incidence of conditioned eyeblink response (CR) in mice was significantly increased (P 0.05). Conclusion During the acquisition of tEBC, the discharge of neurons in the cerebellar cortex exhibits changed pattern from the enhancement to attenuation, which is highly correlated to the CR acquisition.

Keywords

• conditioned reftex
• eyeblink
• cerebellum
• urons