The balance between approach and avoidance behaviors in a novel object exploration paradigm in mice

A follow-up study: acute behavioural effects of Δ9-THC in female heterozygous Neuregulin 1 transmembrane domain mutant mice

“…Object exploration times were very low, which might be attributable to the sedative properties of THC treatment but perhaps also, in the vehicletreated mice, to avoidance of the objects (Misslin and Ropartz 1981). Rodents tend to spend more time exploring novel objects when the environment is familiar (Powell et al 2004), and habituation to the arena on days prior to testing may have increased object exploration, although in other NOR paradigms involving habituation, we have observed a similarly low level of exploration in female Nrg1 HET mice [Spencer, Karl et al (unpublished data)]. Intact spatial learning in the Barnes maze and spontaneous alternation in both male and female Nrg1 HET mice were previously reported in addition to an elevated escape latency in male Nrg1 HET mice (O'Tuathaigh et al 2007), and further investigation of cognitive behavioural domains other than spatial working memory will illuminate this aspect of the Nrg1 HET phenotype.…”

Neotic preferences in laboratory rodents: Issues, assessment and substrates

“…However, in contrast to preferences for a familiar rather than novel location, it is more difficult to conclusively state that nonapproach of objects constitutes neophobic avoidance rather than unresponsiveness, unless perhaps both familiar and novel objects are available at the same time (Powell et al, 2004). In this latter respect, an interesting development of object investigation is the ''playground'' maze that involves observing rats' responses to a single novel object interspersed amongst familiar objects in a familiar circular arena (Nicholls et al, 1992).…”

“…Studies in which object exploration was defined purely in terms of visits to areas where the objects were located (e.g., Cowan and Barnett, 1975;Powell et al, 2004;Williams et al, 1966) were no doubt examples of novelty (or complexity)-related location preferences, as well as responses to complexity per se. However, it should be kept in mind that ''spatial locomotion and interaction with objects are separable entities'' (Renner, 1990, p. 19).…”

Methamphetamine Induces Long-Term Alterations in Reactivity to Environmental Stimuli: Correlation with Dopaminergic and Serotonergic Toxicity

“…Novelty-seeking is driven by the interaction of two contrasting traits, such as exploratory impulse and neophobia-based avoidance, which respond differently to pharmacological and environmental manipulations (Powell et al 2004). Thus, the reduced exploratory frequency in METH-exposed animals may also reflect an increase in neophobia and anxiety.…”