Modelling delay discounting behavior in rodents is important for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms underlying cognitive control and associated impulsivity disorders. Conventional rodent delay discounting procedures require extensive training and frequent experimenter interaction, as rodents are tested in separate operant chambers away from their home cage. To address these limitations, we adapted and characterize here a self-adjusting delay discounting procedure to an automated CombiCage setup. Rodents were trained during the most active phase of the light-dark cycle, completing 120 trials daily. During each session, we measured large reward preference, mean adjusted delay, and trial participation across multiple delays. Results showed that rodents exhibited discounting behavior after two weeks, with performance stability increasing at 7 weeks training with delay. We also evaluated the influence of altering the consecutive choice criteria (ccc), number of trial choices for a delay step to adjust up or down. Lower ccc (3 vs 8) increased both the number of delay steps encountered per session and task participation. Additionally, we examined the effects of pharmacological interventions, including the psychostimulant amphetamine and the dopamine D1 receptor antagonist, SCH23390. A high dose amphetamine reduced preference for large immediate and short delayed rewards and decreased the mean adjusted delay in a non-dose dependent manner, while SCH23390 did not affect task performance. Together, this novel automated self-adjusting procedure enables high-throughput collection of delay discounting data, with potential applications for investigating impulsivity across the lifespan. However, the current extended session design may limit its suitability for pharmacological evaluations.

Madison R Carr

Yvar van Mourik

Paula Gomez-Sotres

Marcello Solinas

Taco J de Vries

Tommy Pattij

Behavioural Brain Research

BEHAVIORAL BRAIN RESEARCH 是一份国际性的跨学科期刊，致力于发表广泛定义的行为神经科学领域的文章。只要目标是描述行为背后的神经机制，来自包括神经科学、行为科学或认知科学的整个学科范围的贡献都是合适的。因此，研究的范围可以从对脑行为关系的神经生理学、神经解剖学、神经化学或神经药理学分析，包括使用分子遗传学或行为遗传学方法，到涉及使用脑成像技术的研究，再到神经行为学研究。鼓励原创研究、主要方法学进展或新颖概念方法的报告。该杂志还将考虑对选定主题的批评性评论。

Behavioural Brain Research is an international interdisciplinary journal dedicated to publishing articles in the broadly defined field of behavioral neuroscience. Contributions from a wide range of disciplines, including neuroscience, behavioral science, and cognitive science, are welcome as long as the aim is to describe the neural mechanisms underlying behavior. Thus, the scope of research can range from neurophysiological, neuroanatomical, neurochemical, or neuropharmacological analyses of the brain-behavior relationship, including studies using molecular genetics or behavioral genetics methods, to research involving brain imaging techniques, and to studies in neurobehavior. We encourage reports of original research, significant methodological advancements, or novel conceptual approaches. The journal also considers critical reviews on selected topics.

《Behavioural Brain Research》是一本国际跨学科期刊，专注于发表行为神经科学领域的研究文章。只要研究目标是描述行为背后的神经机制，来自神经科学、行为科学或认知科学等各个学科的贡献都是适合的。因此，研究范围可以包括对脑与行为关系的神经生理学、神经解剖学、神经化学或神经药理学的分析，使用分子遗传学或行为遗传学方法的研究，应用脑成像技术的研究，以及神经行为学的研究。我们鼓励原创研究、主要方法学进展或新颖概念的报告。此外，该期刊也欢迎对特定主题的批评性评论。

Category	Quartile
心理学	3
心理学, 行为科学	4
心理学, 神经科学	4

Assessment of impulsivity using an automated, self-adjusting delay discounting procedure

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