Adult neurogenesis has been implicated in learning and memory of complex spatial environments. However, new neurons also play a role in nonmnemonic behavior, including the stress response and attention shifting. Many commonly used spatial tasks are very simple, and unsuitable for detecting neurogenesis effects, or are aversively motivated, making it difficult to dissociate effects on spatial learning and memory from effects on stress. We have therefore created a novel complex spatial environment, the flex maze, to enable reward‐mediated testing of spatial learning in a flexibly configurable labyrinth. Using a pharmacogenetic method to completely inhibit neurogenesis in adulthood, we found that rats lacking new neurons (TK rats) and wild type controls completed and remembered most mazes equally well. However, control rats were slower to complete peppermint‐scented mazes than other mazes, while neurogenesis‐deficient rats showed no effect of mint on maze behavior, completing these mazes significantly faster than control rats. Additional testing found that wild type and TK rats showed similar detection of, avoidance of, and glucocorticoid response to the mint odor. These results suggest that spatial learning and memory in a labyrinth task is unaffected by the loss of new neurons, but that these cells affect the ability of an aversive stimulus to distract rats from completing the maze.

中文翻译：

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成人神经发生在不影响空间学习或记忆的情况下改变对迷宫中厌恶干扰物的反应

成人神经发生与复杂空间环境的学习和记忆有关。然而，新的神经元也在非记忆行为中发挥作用，包括压力反应和注意力转移。许多常用的空间任务非常简单，不适合检测神经发生效应，或者具有厌恶动机，因此很难将空间学习和记忆的影响与压力的影响区分开来。因此，我们创建了一个新颖的复杂空间环境，即弹性迷宫，以在灵活配置的迷宫中实现空间学习的奖励介导测试。使用药物遗传学方法完全抑制成年期的神经发生，我们发现缺乏新神经元的大鼠（TK 大鼠）和野生型对照组同样能很好地完成和记住大多数迷宫。然而，对照组大鼠完成薄荷味迷宫的速度比其他迷宫慢，而神经发生缺陷的大鼠显示薄荷对迷宫行为没有影响，完成这些迷宫的速度明显快于对照组。额外的测试发现，野生型和 TK 大鼠对薄荷气味的检测、回避和糖皮质激素反应相似。这些结果表明迷宫任务中的空间学习和记忆不受新神经元丢失的影响，但这些细胞会影响厌恶刺激分散大鼠完成迷宫的能力。和糖皮质激素对薄荷气味的反应。这些结果表明迷宫任务中的空间学习和记忆不受新神经元丢失的影响，但这些细胞会影响厌恶刺激分散大鼠完成迷宫的能力。和糖皮质激素对薄荷气味的反应。这些结果表明迷宫任务中的空间学习和记忆不受新神经元丢失的影响，但这些细胞会影响厌恶刺激分散大鼠完成迷宫的能力。