Avoidance learning is part of an organism’s survival instinct, as it develops a response to evade a hostile stimulus before it happens. After experiencing an unpleasant stimulus, organisms start to recognize when it will next occur and avoid the situation or identify behaviors that prevent the undesirable impact.
If a person notices a certain place is too loud, for example, they might wear earplugs before entering or avoid the area entirely. Similarly, if a mouse experiences a shock after a particular sound, it will eventually learn to escape as soon as it hears that sound.
Humans and animals have the capability for avoidance learning, but this article will focus on avoidance learning in mice. It will examine the differences between active and passive avoidance learning, their key features, and the importance of continued research in this area.
Avoidance learning
Avoidance learning involves developing voluntary behavior to prevent a negative stimulus before it occurs or avoiding it entirely. These responses can only be developed once the avoidance response has been learned, which necessitates a mouse to have previously encountered the aversive event.
While many parts of avoidance learning are natural and fundamental for evading danger, excessive or unnecessary avoidance behaviors can indicate anxiety disorders, making it a vital study area in psychology. Avoidance learning and behaviors are typically studied utilizing mice in research environments.
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Active avoidance learning in mice
Active avoidance learning happens when a mouse learns to respond to hostile stimuli in a particular manner. The most common approach for observing avoidance behavior in mice is through a shuttle box apparatus with two compartments separated by a barrier.
Throughout the investigation, a light or noise stimulus is presented, followed by a non-harmful shock or paw stimulation. As time progresses, and through trial and error, the mouse must learn to avoid hostile stimuli by moving to the other compartment upon recognizing the light or noise stimulus, or conditioned stimulus.1
Significant aspects of active avoidance learning include the presentation of behaviors that only happen with negative stimuli learned through Pavlovian conditioning. The fear of an unconditioned stimulus drives the mouse to adopt behaviors to avoid hostile stimuli. The mouse model must also actively participate in the learning process that helps them escape stimuli exposure, a natural survival instinct in the wild.
Active avoidance learning and the fear response can vary among individuals, as some learn quicker than others. Many reasons exist as to why some organisms do not engage in avoidance learning, such as limited acquisition and retention of experience.1
Passive avoidance learning in mice
Passive avoidance learning is associated with behaviors involving mice not engaging in specific behaviors to evade a hostile experience.2 As implied by its name, this process is more passive than active avoidance learning, requiring less active engagement from the subject to avoid a stimulus.
Passive avoidance learning is studied using a step-through apparatus. Similarly to the active avoidance chambers, a mouse is put inside a two-compartment apparatus with a middle barrier. Starting in a brightly lit compartment, the mouse moves into a dimly lit compartment, and a paw stimulation, or shock, is applied.3
The mouse is trained over time to inhibit a natural response. Its avoidance learning is monitored by measuring its natural instinct of reluctance to enter the darker compartment.
Passive avoidance learning is more straightforward since it necessitates the mouse to be less active. Rodents naturally prefer darker environments, but through this model, they learn to avoid the darker compartment due to remembering the shock administered.
Active vs. passive avoidance learning
Below is a summary of the key features of active vs. passive avoidance learning:
Active avoidance learning
- Assessed on a specific response’s occurrence
- Necessitates the subject’s active engagement
- The subject learns to avoid an aversive stimulus
Passive avoidance learning
- Measured on a response’s non-occurrence
- Requires the subject’s passive engagement
- The subject learns to stay away from the environment they experienced hostile stimuli
Active and passive avoidance learning is studied to gain insight into how organisms respond to anxiety, fear, trauma, and other disorders. In psychology, research into active avoidance learning is essential for learning more about the neural and behavioral mechanisms behind anxiety disorders and supporting the creation of novel treatments.
These studies use mouse models to provide scientists with important information about these disorders and how they can be influenced by genetics and environmental factors.
San Diego Instruments
San Diego Instruments manufactures numerous life science tools for behavioral neuroscience research. The GEMINI active and passive avoidance system is designed for precise and reliable monitoring of learning and memory in rodent subjects for avoidance learning.
The GEMINI system allows up to eight independent avoidance chambers, equipped with cues such as non-heating LED house lights, standard cue lights, and various sound stimuli, with options such as an air puff or shock for unconditioned stimuli.
References and further reading
- ScienceDirect. Active Avoidance Test - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. [online] Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/active-avoidance-test.
- Brazil, I.A. (2023). Social-affective functioning and learning in psychopathy. Handbook of Clinical Neurology, pp.75–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-821375-9.00014-1.
- Chambers, K.C. and Hayes, U.L. (2007). The role of vasopressin in behaviors associated with aversive stimuli. [online] Elsevier, pp.231–262. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0921-0709(05)80015-X.
About San Diego Instruments, Inc.
For more than 30 years, San Diego Instruments has served the scientific community as a comprehensive resource for the design, manufacture and distribution of behavioral neuroscience research instruments used in human and animal studies. Utilized in laboratories and cited in research papers worldwide, SDI systems have come to represent the industry standard for quality and longevity. Our premier SR-LAB™ is the world’s most widely used startle response system. At SDI, our commitment to developing quality products that stand the test of time is matched only our dedication to excellent customer service. We take pride in our ever-growing core of loyal clientele.
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