Equipment for time-place learning research

时间-地点学习是大鼠学习生物学上重要的刺激（如食物）的时空变异性的能力。我通过训练大鼠去一个操作性盒子中的4个位置之一来研究这种能力，这取决于它们被放置在盒子中的时间。例如，大鼠必须在第一个4分钟期间对杠杆A作出反应，在第二个4分钟期间对杠杆B作出反应，在第三个4分钟期间对杠杆C作出反应，在最后4分钟期间对杠杆D作出反应。通过研究动物的这种能力，我们希望能更好地了解动物学习时空偶然事件的能力，这可能有助于理解它们的觅食能力。更重要的是，研究TPL还可以让我们研究信息是如何存储在记忆中的。 这些研究中使用的专用盒子由树脂玻璃制成，以便大鼠可以使用房间线索来确定盒子内的方向。盒子里有四个相同的墙壁，一个杠杆，一盏灯和一个食物杯。在操作箱的顶部是4个食物分配器，其向大鼠提供食物颗粒以进行正确反应。要求提供其中三个方框，以便我可以增加在任何给定时间可以进行的研究数量，并增加研究中的样本量。此外，还需要一台台式计算机来控制和收集可以使用这些框执行的不同范例的数据。计算机也可以用于数据分析。 所要求的设备将致力于研究在间隔TPL，并将使用我和我的学生。该设备将使我的学生获得第三方物流研究的实践经验。该设备也适用于研究其他种类的动物学习，因此可以由纪念大学的其他研究人员使用。

Time-place learning is the ability of rats to learn the spatiotemporal variability of biologically important stimuli such as food. I investigate this ability by training rats to go to one of 4 locations in an operant box depending on the time since they have been placed in the box. For example, the rat must respond on Lever A for the first 4-min period, Lever B for the second 4-min period, Lever C for the third 4-min period and Lever D for the final 4-min period. By investigating this ability in animals we hope to better understand the abilities of animals to learn spatiotemporal contingencies which may be useful in understanding their foraging abilities. More importantly, studying TPL also allows us to conduct studies investigating how information is stored in memory.     The specialized boxes used in these studies are constructed of Plexiglas so that the rat may use room cues to orient itself within the box. The boxes contain on each of four identical walls, a lever, light, and food cup. On the top of the operant box are 4 food dispensers which provide food pellets to the rats for correct responses. Three of these boxes are requested so that I can increase the number of studies that can be conducted at any given time and to increase the sample size in the studies. In addition, one desktop computer is requested that controls and does data collection for the different paradigms that can be executed with these boxes. The computer can also be used for data analysis.     The equipment requested will dedicated to research in interval TPL, and will be used both by myself and my students. This equipment will allow my students to gain hands-on experience with interval TPL research. This equipment is also suitable for research into other kinds of animal learning and may therefore be used by other researchers at Memorial University.