The Effect of Social Support in a Rodent Model of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Author
Uppalapati, SwethaIssue Date
2015Advisor
Fellous, Jean-Marc
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The University of Arizona.Rights
Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder developed from experience of or exposure to a traumatic event. In a rodent model of this disorder, we test whether social support, through co-housing, may be able to alleviate the long term anxiety normally displayed by animals after trauma. There were four groups: a single housed rat (shock or sham), a co-housed group with one shock and two sham rats (e.g. family support) and another co-housed group with three shock rats (e.g. group therapy). The results from a series of anxiety tests showed that the co-housed single shock group displayed decreased anxiety in the open field test, while the co-housed group shock rats showed decreased anxiety in the elevated plus maze test. The single housed shock group showed increased avoidance to the shock side of the shock box by the third exposure to it when compared to the co-housed single shock group. Translated to humans, this suggests that family support and group therapy support may have differential effects that may be beneficial in certain environments. These results also indicate that having social support is generally more effective in reducing anxiety than lack of support.Type
textElectronic Thesis
Degree Name
B.S.Degree Level
bachelorsDegree Program
Honors CollegeNeuroscience and Cognitive Science