Training Merino sheep to respond to visual and auditory cues

2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 541 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donnalee B. Taylor ◽  
Wendy Y. Brown ◽  
Ian R. Price ◽  
Geoff N. Hinch
Keyword(s):  
Food Reward ◽  
Farm Management ◽  
Training Period ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Memory Retention ◽  
Auditory Cues ◽  
Correct Stimulus ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Maze Test

The feasibility of training sheep to approach a stimulus was investigated in three experimental groups and a control group of fine wool Merino sheep (n = 11 in each group). The experimental groups (n = 11) were trained to approach either a visual (V), auditory (A), or visual + auditory (V+A) stimulus over eight training sessions and were subsequently tested in a T-maze for memory retention on six occasions over a 4-month period. Four testing occasions were spaced at greater than 30 days apart while two were less than 3 days apart. Sheep learned to approach the cues during the training period and the tests indicated that the sheep retained memory of the cues for over 130 days without reinforcement. The controls received no contingency exposure and made no choice in the T-maze test. The proportion of correct stimulus choices (±s.e.m.) in the T-maze averaged over the four longer-spaced testing occasions were V 0.61 (0.06), A 0.50 (0.11), V+A 0.77 (0.04). These differences approached significance (P = 0.058). Sheep trained to the V+A stimulus performed significantly (P < 0.05) better in the T-maze than sheep trained to the A stimulus alone. Comparisons over the shorter-spaced testing durations indicated that the sheep quickly learnt not to approach the stimulus (temporary extinction) when no food reward was available. Individual temperament of the animals was not related to their learning. This study highlights the potential for the use of V and A cues in manipulating the movement of sheep which may be useful for farm management purposes.

Implementing Cognitive Training Into a Surgical Skill Course: A Pilot Study on Laparoscopic Suturing and Knot Tying

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 625-635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin De Witte ◽  
Franck Di Rienzo ◽  
Xavier Martin ◽  
Ye Haixia ◽  
Christian Collet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Spatial Orientation ◽  
Mental Workload ◽  
Surgical Skills ◽  
Training Period ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Surgical Skill ◽  
Knot Tying ◽  
Laparoscopic Suturing ◽  
Skill Group

Mini-invasive surgery—for example, laparoscopy—has challenged surgeons’ skills by extending their usual haptic space and displaying indirect visual feedback through a screen. This may require new mental abilities, including spatial orientation and mental representation. This study aimed to test the effect of cognitive training based on motor imagery (MI) and action observation (AO) on surgical skills. A total of 28 postgraduate residents in surgery took part in our study and were randomly distributed into 1 of the 3 following groups: (1) the basic surgical skill, which is a short 2-day laparoscopic course + MI + AO group; (2) the basic surgical skill group; and (3) the control group. The MI + AO group underwent additional cognitive training, whereas the basic surgical skill group performed neutral activity during the same time. The laparoscopic suturing and knot tying performance as well as spatial ability and mental workload were assessed before and after the training period. We did not observe an effect of cognitive training on the laparoscopic performance. However, the basic surgical skill group significantly improved spatial orientation performance and rated lower mental workload, whereas the 2 others exhibited lower performance in a mental rotation test. Thus, actual and cognitive training pooled together during a short training period elicited too high a strain, thus limiting potential improvements. Because MI and AO already showed positive outcomes on surgical skills, this issue may, thus, be mitigated according to our specific learning conditions. Distributed learning may possibly better divide and share the strain associated with new surgical skills learning.

Learning Visual Correlates of Fricative Production by Normal-Hearing Subjects: A Preliminary Evaluation of the Video Articulator

1978 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 200-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace Haugland Bargstadt ◽  
John M. Hutchinson ◽  
Michael A. Nerbonne
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Hearing Impaired ◽  
Training Period ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Preliminary Evaluation ◽  
Auditory Cues ◽  
Low Transmission

This investigation provides a preliminary evaluation of the use of the video articulator, a phonemic recognition device for the hearing impaired. The subjects were five young adults with normal hearing and vision (corrected) who were matched with respect to age, sex, dialect, education, and phonological sophistication. Each subject received 150 min of programmed training to learn the video configurations of the eight English fricatives both in isolation and consonant-vowel contexts. Following the training period, the subjects were given a test to determine adequacy of learning and retention of the video configurations for the training stimuli, in the absence of auditory cues. The subjects' responses were analyzed using a common covariance measure. The results demonstrated generally low transmission values for consonants in isolation. Moreover, identification of consonants in context was less accurate. The subjects, as a group, had greater difficulty in recognizing the productions of other subjects when compared with recognition of their own utterances. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

scholarly journals Efektivitas Metode Kolaboratif Learning dan Kooperatif dalam Pendidikan Kesehatan Berbasis Komunitas

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Tita Hariyanti ◽  
Harsono Mardiwiyoto ◽  
Yayi Suryo Prabandari
Keyword(s):  
Cooperative Learning ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Memory Retention ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Student Centered ◽  
Student Centered Learning ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Group Post

Background: The role of the learning methods is changing from teacher centered learning to student centered learning (SCL). One of the SCL methods is collaborative and cooperative learning. The past twenty years have seen an increase in collaborative and cooperative learning based pedagogies in colleges, but not in community based health education. The aim of this study is to identify the efectivity of collaborative and cooperative learning in community based health educationMethod: This research used quasi experimental non-randomized control group post test design. Respondent of the research are 111 geriatric cadres of Kecamatan Kepanjen and 72 geriatric cadres of Kecamatan Singosari.Results: Data shows that cadre’s knowledge in first training, 30 and 90 days after first training increased in both groups (p<0,001). There is no relationship between individual characteristic (age, education, occupation, time to work as a cadre, training) and increase of knowledge (p>0,05).Conclusion: Collaborative and cooperative method can increase cadre’s knowledge of stroke effectively and maintain memory retention longer than conventional method.

scholarly journals Neuronal and perineuronal changes of cerebral cortex after exposure to inhaled particulate matter

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
So Young Kim ◽  
Da-hye Lee ◽  
Sohyeon Park ◽  
Byeong-Gon Kim ◽  
An-Soo Jang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Cortex ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Proteolytic Enzymes ◽  
Temporal Cortex ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Tenascin C ◽  
Maze Test ◽  
Expression Of Genes ◽  
Y Maze ◽  
Vesicular Transporters

AbstractThe inhalation of particulate matter (PM) increases the perineuronal nets (PNNs) in the cerebral cortex; however, little is known about the related molecular changes. We explored how PM exposure impacted cognitive function and the levels of PNN-related genes. BALB/c mice (6-week-old females, n = 32) were exposed to 1–5-μm diesel-extracted particles (DEPs) (100 µg/m3, 5 hours per day, 5 days per week) and categorized into the following four groups: 1) 4-week DEP exposure (n = 8); 2) 4-week control (n = 8); 3) 8-week DEP exposure (n = 8); and 4) 8-week control (n = 8). The Y-maze test and olfactory function test were conducted after 4 and 8 weeks of DEP exposure. The prefrontal cortex, olfactory bulb and temporal cortex were harvested from the animals in each group. The expression of genes related to PNNs (Tenascin C, matrix metalloproteinase [MMP]14, MMP9) and synaptic vesicular transporters of vesicular glutamergic transporter 1 (VGLUT1), VGLUT2, vesicular GABAergic transporter (VGAT) were measured. The temporal cortex was immunostained for neurocan, VGLUT1, and VGAT. The 4-week DEP group had lower total arm entry in the Y-maze test and olfactory sensitivity. These impaired behavioral functions recovered in the 8-week DEP group. Expression of tenascin C and MMP9 were increased in the cerebral cortex in the 8-week DEP group compared with the control group. The levels of VGLUT1, VGLUT2, and VGAT were elevated in the cerebral cortex of the 8-week DEP group compared with the control group. In immunostaining of the temporal cortex, the expression of neurocan, VGLUT1, and GAD67 were increased in the 8-week DEP group compared with the control group. The 4-week DEP inhalation impaired spatial activities and olfactory sensitivities. After 8 weeks of DEP exposure, the PNN components and their proteolytic enzymes and the vesicular transporters increased in the cerebral cortex.

Exercise training-induced changes in the gut microbiota of Standardbred racehorses

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 119-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.H.D. Janabi ◽  
A.S. Biddle ◽  
D. Klein ◽  
K.H. McKeever
Keyword(s):  
Exercise Training ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Training Group ◽  
The Body ◽  
Shannon Diversity Index ◽  
Training Period ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Shannon Diversity ◽  
Over Time

Exercise has a significant effect on different physiological systems in the body of human and animals. Only limited numbers of published studies in laboratory animals or humans have shown the effect of exercise on the gut microbiota, and no studies have shown this effect in horses. In this study, 8 horses (4 mares, 4 geldings) were exercise trained for 12 weeks, and 4 additional mares were used as a parallel seasonal control. To identify bacterial community changes over time for both groups, rectal faecal samples were collected, DNA was extracted, and the 16S rRNA gene (V3-V4) was sequenced using the Illumina Miseq platform. One-way ANOVA, Shannon diversity index, and Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) were used to identify differences between and among samples. The exercise training group showed significant changes in the levels of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Spirochaetes phyla (P<0.05), while there were no changes in the gut microbiota of the seasonal control group through the three months of the study (P>0.05). Moreover, with training two genera significantly changed in their relative abundance over time, namely Clostridium and Dysgonomonas (P<0.05). Dysgonomonas spp. was significantly changed in abundance during the exercise training period (P<0.05). Also Treponema spp. showed significant changes during the exercise training period (P<0.05). Shannon diversity index was decreased (P<0.05) in the exercise group at the beginning of the study, but then returned to pre-training levels. PCoA showed significant separation between time points of the exercise training group as far as the levels of genera and species (P<0.05) represented. Our results show that exercise training influences the gut microbiota, especially at the beginning of training.

35 LEARNING AND MEMORY BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS IN CLONED DOGS

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 132
Author(s):  
C. W. Shin ◽  
W. J. Park ◽  
L. T. Baek ◽  
K. Y. Park ◽  
G. A. Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Learning And Memory ◽  
Undergraduate Research ◽  
Performance Criterion ◽  
The Other ◽  
Training Period ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Biological Technology ◽  
Y Maze ◽  
Behavioural Patterns ◽  
Assessment Time

Recently, in order to advance biological technology and increase the number of elite dogs that possess unique abilities, researchers have put more focus on cloning superior dogs that have been acknowledged in their respective fields. These experiments depend on the known fact that cloned dogs will be both physically and psychologically similar to those that provided the somatic cells. However, little research has focused on whether it is genetic or posteriori factors that influence abilities to accomplish tasks. In this experiment, cloned beagles that have been produced from one somatic cell and thus have the same genetic information were tested on learning and memory behaviours. This experiment was performed to investigate the similarity in behavioural patterns between these cloned individuals (n = 6). A Y-maze test, which is commonly applied for evaluating learning and memory, was performed using 12 Beagles, 6 of which were cloned dogs and the other 6 were naturally bred controls (n = 6). One snack was placed at the end of each arm of the Y-maze. The snack that was placed in the east arm was accessible to the dogs, whereas the other was blocked using a plastic fence. All 12 dogs were trained before the experiment, where they were sent through the maze 10 times and allowed to obtain the snack. Following this training period, the dogs were retested 3 times to assess learning and working memory. The first trial (Day 0) was performed 1 day after the training period, while the second (Day 7) and third (Day 14) trials were performed at 1-week intervals. In each trial, the dog was given 60 s to make a choice between the east or west arm of the Y-maze. If correct, the dog received a feed reward. After consuming the reward, the dog was picked up by the experimenter and placed outside in preparation for the next dog. In every trial, each dog was sent through the Y-maze 5 times. Using the Harvard Panlab software and a live video image, the latency to choice was measured. All cloned dogs reached the performance criterion with 100% correction on Day 0 of acquisition. However, all naturally bred dogs reached the performance criterion (85% correction) at a lower rate than those of cloned dogs. Correct choices were maintained in all experimental dogs during re-assessment time. Mean latency to choice showed no significant differences between naturally bred controls and cloned dogs. Interestingly, when the standard deviation (s.d.) of the latency to reach the target was compared, the s.d. within the cloned group was significantly lower than that within the control group only on the first assessment (Day 0). However, no significant differences were shown during the second (Day 7) and third (Day 14) trials. Therefore, it appears that genetically identical cloned dogs do not show greater consistency in their learning and memory behaviour than litters of naturally bred control dogs. The learning and memory ability of cloned dogs were not different from those of naturally bred control dogs. This research was supported by the SNU Undergraduate Research Program.

scholarly journals A Novel Function of the Lysophosphatidic Acid Receptor 3 (LPAR3) Gene in Zebrafish on Modulating Anxiety, Circadian Rhythm Locomotor Activity, and Short-Term Memory

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 2837 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Nung Lin ◽  
Gilbert Audira ◽  
Nemi Malhotra ◽  
Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh ◽  
Petrus Siregar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Circadian Rhythm ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Locomotor Activity ◽  
Lysophosphatidic Acid ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Control Fish ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Memory Retention ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Lpa Receptors

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a small lysophospholipid molecule that activates multiple cellular functions through pathways with G-protein-coupled receptors. So far, six LPA receptors (LPAR1 to LPAR6) have been discovered and each one of them can connect to the downstream cell message-transmitting network. A previous study demonstrated that LPA receptors found in blood-producing stem cells can enhance erythropoietic processes through the activation of LPAR3. In the current study, newly discovered functions of LPAR3 were identified through extensive behavioral tests in lpar3 knockout (KO) zebrafish. It was found that the adult lpar3 KO zebrafish display an abnormal movement orientation and altered exploratory behavior compared to that of the control group in the three-dimensional locomotor and novel tank tests, respectively. Furthermore, consistent with those results, in the circadian rhythm locomotor activity test, the lpar3 KO zebrafish showed a lower level of angular velocity and average speed during the light cycles, indicating an hyperactivity-like behavior. In addition, the mutant fish also exhibited considerably higher locomotor activity during the dark cycle. Supporting those findings, this phenomenon was also displayed in the lpar3 KO zebrafish larvae. Furthermore, several important behavior alterations were also observed in the adult lpar3 KO fish, including a lower degree of aggression, less interest in conspecific social interaction, and looser shoal formation. However, there was no significant difference regarding the predator avoidance behavior between the mutant and the control fish. In addition, lpar3 KO zebrafish displayed memory deficiency in the passive avoidance test. These in vivo results support for the first time that the lpar3 gene plays a novel role in modulating behaviors of anxiety, aggression, social interaction, circadian rhythm locomotor activity, and memory retention in zebrafish.

Behaviour Treatment of Daytime Incontinence in Elderly Male and Female Patients

1986 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Chanfreau-Rona ◽  
Belinda Wylie ◽  
Stuart Bellwood
Keyword(s):  
Training Programme ◽  
Training Period ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Elderly Male ◽  
Severe Problem ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Low Level ◽  
And Control ◽  
Experimental Group

This paper describes an attempt at retraining continence in elderly psychogeriatric patients using behavioural methods. Thirty patients across four wards were selected and divided equally into experimental and control groups. The experimental group underwent a training programme lasting a total of seven weeks whilst the control group continued with the usual nursing procedure.The results showed no significant differences in frequency of incontinence between the different groups at the end of the programme. However, there were indications that a continence training programme is more likely to be beneficial to those patients who have a low level of incontinence rather than those for whom incontinence is a more severe problem. For these patients, those in the experimental group showed increased levels of incontinence after the training period compared to the control group.

scholarly journals Effect of Story-Based Audio Visual Mnemonics in Comparison with Text Reading Method on Memory Consolidation among Medical Students: A randomized Controlled Trial

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mona Mohamed Ibrahim Abdalla ◽  
Meram Azzani ◽  
Reanugah Rajendren ◽  
Tan Kim Hong ◽  
Yamunah A/P Balachandran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Memory Consolidation ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Memory Retention ◽  
Multiple Choice Questions ◽  
Visual Mnemonics ◽  
Text Reading ◽  
Single Response

Abstract Background: Traditional teaching methods via faculty lectures lacked interactivity, as seen with text-based materials. Hence, this research aimed to compare the effectiveness of story-based audio-visual mnemonics and conventional text reading methods on medical students’ memory consolidation. Methods: A single-center, systematic random sampling, single-blinded, controlled study was conducted among 80 medical students in year one. The students were randomly assigned to the text-based (control) or story-based audio-visual mnemonics (intervention). Then, a test was held immediately, consisting of ten multiple-choice questions and ten oral recall keywords based on the topic given. The test was repeated in one week, two weeks, and four weeks later. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were utilized. The mean score difference between the audiovisual mnemonic and control groups was determined using a two-tailed unpaired t-test. Results: This study found that participants who underwent a story-based audiovisual mnemonics method had statistically significant higher marks in the single-response answer questions compared to participants who undergone a text reading method. The audiovisual group also spent a statistically significant shorter time to recall in the oral recall test in comparison to the control group. In conclusion, story-based audio-visual mnemonics are more effective in medical student’s memory retention compared to the conventional text reading method.

scholarly journals STUDIES ON TOXICOLOGICAL AND NEUROBEHAVIORAL PROFILE OF METHANOL EXTRACT OF MUSSAENDA ROXBURGHII HOOK. F. LEAVES IN MICE

2019 ◽  
pp. 295-301
Author(s):  
SANJIT NAMASUDRA ◽  
PANKAJ PHUKAN ◽  
MEENAKSHI BAWARI
Keyword(s):  
Plant Extract ◽  
Plant Extracts ◽  
Morris Water Maze Test ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Group Iii ◽  
Total Distance ◽  
Maze Test ◽  
Group I ◽  
Group Ii ◽  
Distance Travel

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of Mussaenda roxburghii with special reference to the nervous system. Methods: For the study, 15 mice were obtained from Pasteur Institute, Shillong. The mice were then divided into three groups containing five mice in each group. The groups were, namely Group I, Group II, and Group III; Group I mice received distilled water and acted as a control group, Group II mice received plant extract at a dose of 600 mg/kg body weight (BWT.), and Group III mice received plant extract at a dose of 800 mg/kg BWT. The doses were administered orally through oral gavage tube for 28 days and the BWT of the mice was measured at 7th, 14th, 21th, and 28th days. The behavior of mice was evaluated for anxiety, locomotion, immobility, learning, and memory with the elevated plus maze test (EPMT), open field test (OFT), forced swim test (FST), and Morris water maze test (MWMT), respectively. Results: The result of the experiment showed a decrease in the BWT of mice exposed to plant extracts significantly as compared to the control. In the OFT, there is a significant decrease in total distance travel in OFT and also total distance travel in the central zone in mice treated with the plant extracts as compared to the control mice. In the EPMT, the plant extract treated mice showed a decreased in the time spent in open arms. The FST results in increased immobility in mice exposed to plant extracts as compared to control. In the present study, MWMT results in an increased escape latency and path length and in decreased annulus crossovers in plant extract treated group as compared to control. Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that the plant extract alters the behavior of the treated mice and possesses neurotoxic activity.

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