Developing Flexible Olfactory Perception and Discrimination Learning
Abstract
Developing Flexible Olfactory Perception and Discrimination Learning ABSTRACT The objective of this project is to expand the scope of our olfactory scent-detecting research with wild-caught, African pouched rats and increase the number of these rodents in our existing small colony. The pouched rodents are an integral component of the collaborative research project sponsored by the ArmyÕs Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II program between Barron Associates Inc. and the WilliamsÕ lab at the University of Virginia. This collaborative team has developed operant learning procedures, computer software, and automated remote-controlled odor delivery devices to produce efficient searching strategies, scent recognition and detection of chemical compounds used to construct harmful explosives. Despite the progress achieved in shaping pouched rats into accurate detectors of explosive odorants, we are currently limited in discovering the range of search and odor detection applications this species can be adapted to in the future, due to our dwindling colony. We are therefore submitting this proposal to address the shortage of African pouched rats at UVA and as a consequence, permit the ongoing program to continue developing more sophisticated forms of scent detection learning in new offspring of this species. We will address the first goal of the proposal by applying cutting edge procedures to implement artificial insemination as an alternative method of developing new pouched rat offspring. The second objective will be addressed by exposing the remaining male and expected pouched offspring to more extensive open field training procedures to produce a modified form of Match to Sample learning. This procedure requires subjects to first attend to a new sample odor and then search the open field environment to identify the location of the sample odor (i.e. a match) from among several distractor odorants. The significance of this approach rests in its capacity to prepare rodents during daily training sessions to search for and identify several odorants of interest (e.g. TNT, RDX, PETN) or combined versions of these explosives in the form of the compound known as Semtex. Specialized hardware (developed by the team in prior related work) is able to precisely present these odors to the animals. This is an especially crucial addition to training to improve the flexibility and range of conditions rodents can be employed to ensure safety and reliably locate odorants of interest in laboratory or simulated real-life conditions. The overall goals of the proposed activities are to institute an effective program of reproduction to increase the colony of African pouched rats at UVA and expand the range of harmful chemicals that can be reliably searched for and identified by this species. We envision the birth of new pouched rats as a rare opportunity to empirically document developmental, behavioral and cognitive milestones in this intuitive rat species that is not currently available in the scientific literature.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 09, 2020
- Source ID
- W911NF2010073
Entities
People
- Cedric Williams
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of Virginia