Topic: Mongolian gerbils

In the current world, it is essential to make valid decisions on adapting exploratory behavioral strategies to flexibly reallocate the resources. Previous studies involving exploration/exploitation dilemma have suggested that the anterior prefrontal cortex (aPFC) plays a decisive role for the neuronal realization of exploratory resource allocation in human and non-human primates (Daw et al., 2006). In the present study, we investigated the performance of Mongolian gerbils in a probabilistic foraging paradigm (adapted from Lottem et al., 2018, Nat Comm.) while simultaneously recording local fil

Tone discrimination is a behavioral task to investigate learning and memory processes in rodents. Additional punishment (aP) can be applied to enhance discrimination abilities; however, some animals have difficulties learning the task with aP. To understand this effect, we conducted auditory fMRI in Mongolian gerbils throughout discrimination training with rising (GO) and falling (noGo) frequency-modulated (FM) tones in ten daily sessions (S), enforced through foot shocks for “Miss”; a second group additionally received aP for “False‑Alarm”. Gerbils of each training group were divided into “go

The optical cochlear implant (oCI) utilizes optogenetic stimulation of the spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) in the cochlea to improve hearing restoration. Preclinical data has shown that this may improve bionic hearing in CI users by targeting smaller areas of the cochlea compared to electrical stimulation.This study investigates the influence of the light emitter characteristics (one/two laser-coupled glass fibers) on the spread of excitation, through a combination of computer simulations and in-vivo multiunit recordings of inferior colliculus activity in Mongolian gerbils that postnatally rece

To overcome the wide-spread electrical neural excitation associated with electrical cochlear implants (eCI), stimulation of spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) using light presents an attractive solution, as light can be better confined in space. Using optogenetics, SGNs are rendered light sensitive following a viral delivery of a Channelrhodopsin (ChR) transgene to the cochlea. Our group has provided in vivo evidence to support the clinical potential of the optical CI, but for clinical translation, it is critical to optimize individual components of the gene therapy. To this end, we have employed

In this study, we explored the neuroprotective properties of a novel Tat-CRYM recombinant protein, designed with a Tat domain to enhance blood-brain barrier permeability, within a transient cerebral ischemia using Mongolian gerbils. Our focus was on Ketimine reductase mu-crystallin (CRYM), a protein with widespread distribution in the brain, including areas like the cerebral cortex, corticospinal tract, and basal ganglia, and its diminished expression in neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's and Alzheimer's.We assessed the intracellular uptake of Tat-CRYM protein by NSC34 cells, reve