Color-Coding Method Reveals Enhancement of Stereotypic Locomotion by Phenazepam in Rat Open Field Test

Mark Makarov, Yuri I. Sysoev, Oksana Agafonova, Veronika A. Prikhodko, Eduard Korkotian*, Sergey V. Okovityi

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

One of the most important tasks in neuroscience is the search for theoretical foundations for the development of methods for diagnosing and treating neurological pathology, and for assessing the effect of pharmacological drugs on the nervous system. Specific behavioral changes associated with exposure to systemic influences have been invisible to the human eye for a long time. A similar pattern of changes is characteristic of phenazepam, a drug with a wide range of effects on the brain. In this study, we used a color-coding method, which consists of combining three time positions in one image, the present (0 s), the near future (0.33 s) and the far future (1.6 s). This method made it possible to identify movement patterns, such as the initialization of ahead movements, side turns and 180 degrees turns (back), and also to determine the degree of predictability of future movements. The obtained data revealed a decrease in the number of turns to the sides while maintaining ahead movement, as well as an increase in the predictability of movements in rats under the influence of phenazepam. Thus, sedative doses of phenazepam do not exhibit general depression of brain functions, but the inhibition of specific centers, including the medial prefrontal cortex and postsubiculum, which are involved in stereotypic locomotive behavior.
Original languageEnglish
Article number408
Number of pages11
JournalBrain Sciences
Volume13
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2023

Bibliographical note

The work was performed using the equipment of the Analytical Center of the Russian Ministry of Health under Agreement no. 075152021685 of 26 July 2021, funded by the Russian Ministry of Education and Science. This work was performed within project ID: 93022798 of the St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia (for Y.I.S.).

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