Behavioral Tasks Evaluating Schizophrenia-like Symptoms in Animal Models: A Recent Update

Title:Behavioral Tasks Evaluating Schizophrenia-like Symptoms in Animal Models: A Recent Update

Volume: 19 Issue: 5

Author(s): Mary Jasmin Ang, Sueun Lee, Jong-Choon Kim, Sung-Ho Kim and Changjong Moon*

Affiliation:

• Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Animal Behavior, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 Plus Project Team, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186,South Korea

Keywords: Schizophrenia, symptom, behavioral task, animal model, genetic, environment.

Abstract:

Background: Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that affects more than 21 million people worldwide. Both genetics and the environment play a role in its etiology and pathogenesis. Symptoms of schizophrenia are mainly categorized into positive, negative, and cognitive. One major approach to identify and understand these diverse symptoms in humans has been to study behavioral phenotypes in a range of animal models of schizophrenia.

Objective: We aimed to provide a comprehensive review of the behavioral tasks commonly used for measuring schizophrenia-like behaviors in rodents together with an update of the recent study findings.

Methods: Articles describing phenotypes of schizophrenia-like behaviors in various animal models were collected through a literature search in Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, with a focus on advances over the last 10 years.

Results: Numerous studies have used a range of animal models and behavioral paradigms of schizophrenia to develop antipsychotic drugs for improved therapeutics. In establishing animal models of schizophrenia, the candidate models were evaluated for schizophrenia-like behaviors using several behavioral tasks for positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms designed to verify human symptoms of schizophrenia. Such validated animal models were provided as rapid preclinical avenues for drug testing and mechanistic studies.

Conclusion: Based on the most recent advances in the field, it is apparent that a myriad of behavior tests are needed to confirm and evaluate the congruency of animal models with the numerous behaviors and clinical signs exhibited by patients with schizophrenia.

Cite this article as:

Ang Jasmin Mary , Lee Sueun , Kim Jong-Choon , Kim Sung-Ho and Moon Changjong*, Behavioral Tasks Evaluating Schizophrenia-like Symptoms in Animal Models: A Recent Update, Current Neuropharmacology 2021; 19 (5) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1570159X18666200814175114