Assessing Attention in the Zebrafish: Are We There Yet?

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1-2011

School

Psychology

Abstract

Traditionally, rodent sustained attention models are used for studying the neurobiological underpinnings of attention, for assessing the disruptive and interactive effects of drugs and environmental toxins and for predicting the efficacy of pharmacotherapies for attention disorders. Virtually all-major psychiatric disorders are characterized by disturbances in attention or concentration. Additionally, many psychoactive drugs produce simultaneous effects on a variety of psychological processes. Behavioral measures in tasks designed to assess cognitive processes in rodents characterize and dissociate these multiple influences. While the zebrafish (Danio rerio) has been at the vanguard of neurobiological research and is increasing in popularity as a model organism for behavioral applications, their attentional capacity has not been fully assessed. Here we review some of the more popular animal models and discuss the utility of a choice discrimination zebrafish model. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Publication Title

Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry

Volume

35

Issue

6

First Page

1416

Last Page

1420

Link to Full Text

Find in your library

Share

COinS