Ang et al. (2021) review recent advances in the use of animal models and behavioral tests in schizophrenia research. Schizophrenia is a complex mental illness, with positive (hallucinations, delusions), negative (social withdrawal, lack of motivation) and cognitive (memory and attention deficits) symptoms. Animal models, especially rodents, are crucial to understanding these symptoms and developing new treatments.
The article describes in detail the most common behavioral tests for each type of symptom. For positive symptoms, the open field test (to measure locomotor activity) and the prepulse inhibition test (PPI) stand out, which evaluates the sensory filter, a common deficit in schizophrenia. For negative symptoms, tests such as forced swimming and tail suspension (to assess behavioral despair), the sucrose preference test (for anhedonia) and the three-chamber sociability test are used. For cognitive symptoms, mazes such as the radial and Morris water mazes (for spatial memory), the new object recognition test and attention and cognitive flexibility tasks are used.
The authors emphasize that the choice of behavioral tests must be careful, considering validity and relevance to the specific symptoms of schizophrenia. Combining different animal models and behavioral tests is essential for a comprehensive understanding of the disease and the development of more effective therapies.
Reference :
ANG, Mary Jasmin et al. Behavioral Tasks Evaluating Schizophrenia-like Symptoms in Animal Models: A Recent Update. Current Neuropharmacology, vol. 19, no. 5, p. 641-664, 2021.
