Behavioural Consequences of Kindling in the Anterior Claustrum

The anterior claustrum (CLA) has been implicated in epileptogenesis and epileptiform activity due to its abundant and widespread bilateral connections to some of the structures believed to play an important role in seizure generalization: the motor cortex, entorhinal cortex, limbic structures, and brainstem sites. Kindling in the CLA has been characterized as comprising two distinct phases: an early phase and a late phase. Early phase seizures progress quickly into generalized seizures, are short in duration, and resemble cortical seizures. Late phase seizures are characterized as being more severe in intensity, having longer durations, and resembling limbic-type seizures. It is unknown whether kindling in the CLA will lead to changes in behaviour as seen after kindling of limbic sites. Thus, I measured the behavioural effects of kindling in the anterior CLA to investigate potential changes in learning, memory, and anxiety-related behaviours. I hypothesized that changes in behaviour would occur after kindling of late phase seizures, because of their close resemblance to limbic-type seizures, but not after kindling of early phase seizures. Anxiety-like behaviour was assessed in the elevated plus maze and open field. Object memory was assessed in an object recognition test, and spatial learning and memory were assessed in the water maze. I found no significant changes in behaviour in the late phase group in comparison to the early phase and control groups. Thus, contrary to my hypothesis, late phase kindling of the CLA does not produce changes in learning and memory or alterations in anxiety-related behaviours.