Identification of differential gene expression profile in rats showing risk-averse and risk-seeking preferences in rat gambling task (rGT)

In the present study, we examined using next-generation sequencing (NGS) whether there are differences in gene expression profiles in the brain when rats make different choices toward risk in rGT. Rats were trained in a touch screen chamber to learn the relationships between 4 different light signals on the window of the screen and accompanied reward outcomes or punishments set up with different magnitudes and probabilities. Once they show a stabilized pattern of preference upon free choice, rats were classified into risk-averse or risk-seeking group. After classification in rGT, rats were decapitated, the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the nucleus accumbens (NAc) were dissected out from their brains, and NGS was performed with total RNA extracted.