Understanding associative memory is fundamental for a variety of neurological and neurodegenerative diseases, however, a large proportion of this research has excluded female subjects due to unsubstantiated bias. By including intact females, ovariectomized females and males in the study of associative memory, clear sex differences in acquisition emerged. Female mice acquired the classical conditioning paradigm trace eyeblink conditioning faster than ovariectomized females and males under normal learning conditions. However, when male mice were implanted with tetrodes to record neuronal activity, acquisition was facilitated compared to intact females. These observed differences were not accounted for by the weight of the implant alone, therefore stress and neuroinflammatory factors undoubtedly play a fundamental role in these observed sex-differences. Further investigation into the mechanisms underlying sexually dimorphic behavior is necessary to develop better therapeutics for diseases and disorders that have observed sex-differences in prevalence and severity.

Creator

• Rapp, Amy

DOI

• https://doi.org/10.21985/n2-1788-gm40

Subject

• Neurosciences

Language

• en

Alternate Identifier

• etdadmin_upload_802347
• http://dissertations.umi.com/northwestern:15501

Date created

• 2021-01-01

Resource type

• Dissertation

Rights statement

• In Copyright