The Negative Effects of Early Negative and Positive Onset Symptoms of Schizophrenia in a Person's Behavior
Location
FA 202
Department
Psychology
Abstract
The purpose of this research project was to examine the presence of negative and positive symptoms early in schizophrenia and determine their impact on behavior. Two symptoms that were examined were hallucinations (positive symptom of schizophrenia) and learning and memory deficits (negative symptom of schizophrenia). Adult male and female zebrafish were randomly selected and placed into two groups, control (n=10) and experimental (n=10). The experimental group was treated with MK-801 (an NMDA agonist, 100 microM), which is known to induce schizophrenia-like behavior in zebrafish. After dosing, swim behavior was recorded in two conditions. In the hallucination condition, the subject was placed in a tank with a different tank at each end with 5 conspecifics with one side viewed through a yellow filter making the conspecific coloring wrong. In the learning condition, the subject was placed in a tank with a white and a red barrier opposite ends. After 1 minute, the barriers are removed exposing conspecifics at the end with the red barrier only. After two trials, the preference for the red barrier is measured to determine if the association is learned. Results are expected to show that after chronic exposure to MK-801, there will be a decrease in performance in learning condition compared to the control, seen with increase in the latency to swim toward the red barrier and a decrease in the time spent near the conspecifics. In the hallucination condition there will be an increase in the time spent on the side with the yellow filter compared to control. The results from this research will provide insight into the early stages of schizophrenia and the use of the zebrafish as a model to better understand disease progression in schizophrenia and the potential impact of both positive and negative symptoms on quality of life.
Faculty Sponsor
Shannon Saszik, Northeastern Illinois University
The Negative Effects of Early Negative and Positive Onset Symptoms of Schizophrenia in a Person's Behavior
FA 202
The purpose of this research project was to examine the presence of negative and positive symptoms early in schizophrenia and determine their impact on behavior. Two symptoms that were examined were hallucinations (positive symptom of schizophrenia) and learning and memory deficits (negative symptom of schizophrenia). Adult male and female zebrafish were randomly selected and placed into two groups, control (n=10) and experimental (n=10). The experimental group was treated with MK-801 (an NMDA agonist, 100 microM), which is known to induce schizophrenia-like behavior in zebrafish. After dosing, swim behavior was recorded in two conditions. In the hallucination condition, the subject was placed in a tank with a different tank at each end with 5 conspecifics with one side viewed through a yellow filter making the conspecific coloring wrong. In the learning condition, the subject was placed in a tank with a white and a red barrier opposite ends. After 1 minute, the barriers are removed exposing conspecifics at the end with the red barrier only. After two trials, the preference for the red barrier is measured to determine if the association is learned. Results are expected to show that after chronic exposure to MK-801, there will be a decrease in performance in learning condition compared to the control, seen with increase in the latency to swim toward the red barrier and a decrease in the time spent near the conspecifics. In the hallucination condition there will be an increase in the time spent on the side with the yellow filter compared to control. The results from this research will provide insight into the early stages of schizophrenia and the use of the zebrafish as a model to better understand disease progression in schizophrenia and the potential impact of both positive and negative symptoms on quality of life.