Publication Date

12-8-2019

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Wallace, Douglas G.

Degree Name

B.S. (Bachelor of Science)

Legacy Department

Department of Psychology

Abstract

Animals use multiple sources of information to maintain spatial orientation, including self-movement and environmental cues. Self-movement cues are processed by the vestibular system, and animals with congenital vestibular defects exhibit impairments in self-movement cue processing but not environmental cue processing. No study currently exists to examine the exploratory behavior of mice following complete bilateral vestibular lesions. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of bilateral chemical labyrinthectomies on mouse exploratory behavior under dark and light conditions at two time points. Motion tracking software was used to capture mouse exploratory behavior, such as path circuity and change in heading. Persistent deficits were observed in mice with vestibular lesions. Mice with bilateral vestibular lesions engaged in more circuitous paths and higher changes in directional heading between progressions at each time point and under dark and light conditions. This study demonstrates the important role that the vestibular system has in organizing the exploratory behavior of mice.

Extent

15 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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