Reward Motivation and Cognitive Flexibility in Tau Null-Mutation Mice

Sara Oberrauch; Jeremy A Metha; Maddison L Brian; Samuel A Barnes; Travis J Featherby; Andrew J Lawrence; Daniel Hoyer; Carsten Murawski; Laura H Jacobson

Journal article

Reward Motivation and Cognitive Flexibility in Tau Null-Mutation Mice

Sara Oberrauch, Jeremy A Metha, Maddison L Brian, Samuel A Barnes, Travis J Featherby, Andrew J Lawrence, Daniel Hoyer, Carsten Murawski, Laura H Jacobson

Neurobiology of Aging | Elsevier BV | Published : 2021

DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.12.017

Abstract

The reduction of tau or hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau) has been proposed as a therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Cognitive decline and sleep-wake dysregulation seen in AD and FTD patients are mimicked in transgenic and null-mutation mouse models of tauopathy. Alterations in the reward system are additional symptoms of AD and FTD. However, the role of tau in reward processes is not well understood. The present study aimed to examine reward and reward-motivated cognitive processes in male and female tau knockout (tau−/−) and wild-type mice using progressive ratio and reversal learning tasks. Tau−/− mice were heavier, ate more in the home cage,..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Andrew Lawrence Author

Daniel Hoyer Author

Carsten Murawski Author

Laura Jacobson Author

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Grants

Awarded by National Institute of Mental Health

Funding Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful for the expert technical assistance of Heather Daykin, Linda Cornthwaite-Duncan, Brett Purcell and Maria Bastias. Funding: LHJ and DH are supported by the Alzheimer's Association [2016-NIRG-396905] and the National Health and Medical Research Council [APP1105284]. SAB was supported by a National Institute of Mental Health grant [R01MH108653] and a NARSAD YIG. AJL is a principal fellow of the National Health and Medical Research Council [APP1116930]. The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health acknowledge the support of the Victorian Government and in particular the funding from the Operational Infrastructure Support Grant.