Adult timing after preweaning shifts of Zeitgeber in rats: Crossed sensitization to time?

Author(s): ElAhmadi, A., Weyers, M. H.

Journal/Book: Physiol Behav. 1997; 61: The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford, England OX5 1GB. Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd. 919-929.

Abstract: Preweaning albino rats were exposed from days 1 to 18 of life to successive 6-h shifts in light and temperature Zeitgebers, (1-18 rats), whereas controls (C) were raised under constant 12:12 L:D and temperature cycles. Cyclic Peak Interval performance at adulthood (100 days) showed that 1-18 rats were more accurate and sensitive to time than C subjects. These effects, which were akin to a crossed senzitization to time, were interpreted within the framework of scalar timing theory and the temporal information-processing model. They seemed not to depend upon changes in the pacemaker rate (lambda) or the memory constant K*, but to a change at the level of the decision process: 1-18 rats used a smaller response threshold than controls.

Note: Article Lejeune H, Univ Liege, Fac Psychol, Psychobiol Temporal Proc Unit, 5 Blvd Rectorat B32, B-4000 Liege, BELGIUM

Keyword(s): preweaning Zeitgeber shifts; circadian; sensitization to time; peak interval procedure; rat; INTERNAL CLOCK; CIRCADIAN-RHYTHMS; HYPOTHALAMIC-LESIONS; LOCOMOTOR-ACTIVITY; FEEDING SCHEDULES; COLUMBA-LIVIA; FOOD ACCESS; BEHAVIOR; PIGEONS; MEMORY

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