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Table 1 Descriptions of stages within the Attentional Set-Shifting Task

From: Factor analysis of attentional set-shifting performance in young and aged mice

Stage

Description

Dimensions

Exemplar combinations

  

Relevant

Irrelevant

Correct

Incorrect

Simple Discrimination (SD)

Two stimuli are presented within one dimension (e.g., odor): one stimulus is the target and the other is irrelevant.

Odor

--

O1

O2

Compound Discrimination (CD)

A second dimension (e.g., platform) is introduced but is irrelevant because the subject is still required to discriminate between the two original stimuli.

  

O1/P1

O2/P1

  

Odor

Platform

  
    

O1/P2

O2/P2

Compound Discrimination Reversal (CDR)

The saliencies of the original stimuli are reversed: the target stimulus is now irrelevant, while the irrelevant stimulus becomes the target.

  

O2/P1

O1/P1

  

Odor

Platform

  
    

O2/P2

O1/P2

Intradimensional Shift (IDS)

Novel stimuli are introduced for both dimensions. The target dimension (e.g., odor) remains constant.

  

O3/P3

O4/P3

  

Odor

Platform

  
    

O3/P4

O4/P4

Intradimensional Reversal (IDR)

The saliency of the novel stimuli is reversed: the target stimulus is now irrelevant, while the irrelevant stimulus becomes the target.

  

O4/P3

O3/P3

  

Odor

Platform

  
    

O4/P4

O3/P4

Extradimensional Shift (EDS)

Novel stimuli are introduced for both dimensions, and the target dimension is now changed (e.g., from odor to platform).

  

P5/O5

P6/O5

  

Platform

Odor

  
    

P5/O6

P6/O6

Extradimensional Reversal (EDR)

The saliency of the novel stimuli in the new target dimension is reversed: the target stimulus is now irrelevant while the irrelevant becomes the target.

  

P6/O5

P5/O5

  

Platform

Odor

  
    

P6/O6

P5/O6

  1. One half of the mice received odor as the initial relevant dimension, while the other half received platform. Odors were ground ginger, nutmeg, garlic, coriander, thyme, and cinnamon. Platforms were sandpaper, wood, neoprene, metal wire, tile, and a scrubber.