Abstract

POLANCO, Lady Andrea  and  VARGAS-IRWIN, Cristina. ACQUISITION OF FREEZING RESPONSE IN RATS: SEX DIFFERENCES IN ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS. Suma Psicol. [online]. 2011, vol.18, n.2, pp.127-137. ISSN 0121-4381.

Pavlovian fear conditioning is one of the most popular preclinical models in the study of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The aim of the present research was explore the sex differences that characterize PTSD by means of this experimental paradigm, as well as to offer a preliminary description of how these sex differences behave throughout development. Forty five native rats, of Wistar descent were used as subjects, with 18 males and 27 females approximately balanced by litter across the two experimental groups: adolescents and adults. The results show significant differences in the second measurement of the conditioned stimulus in the interaction between sex and age and to compare the tree measurements of the conditioned stimulus. Results are discussed regarding the discrepancies in the literature regarding the effect of the variables evaluated in the acquisition of Conditioned fear.

Keywords : sex differences; age; conditioned fear; freezing.

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