Bridging the translational divide: Identical cognitive touchscreen testing in mice and humans carrying mutations in a disease-relevant homologous gene

Authors

J. Nithianantharajah, Edinburgh Medical School
A. G. McKechanie, Edinburgh Medical School
T. J. Stewart, The University of Edinburgh
M. Johnstone, The University of Edinburgh
D. H. Blackwood, The University of Edinburgh
D. St Clair, University of Aberdeen School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition
S. G.N. Grant, Edinburgh Medical School
T. J. Bussey, Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience InstituteFollow
L. M. Saksida, University of Melbourne

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-1-2015

Journal

Scientific Reports

Volume

5

URL with Digital Object Identifier

10.1038/srep14613

Abstract

Development of effective therapies for brain disorders has been hampered by a lack of translational cognitive testing methods. We present the first example of using the identical touchscreen-based cognitive test to assess mice and humans carrying disease-related genetic mutations. This new paradigm has significant implications for improving how we measure and model cognitive dysfunction in human disorders in animals, thus bridging the gap towards effective translation to the clinic.