Waking EEG power spectra in the rat: correlations with training performance

Adult rats chronically implanted with supradural electrodes were telemetrically EEG recorded during a baseline session, a training session for a two-way active avoidance task, and a retention session. Rats were assigned to a fast learning (FL), slow learning (SL) and non learning (NL) group if they achieved criterion during the training session, the retention session, or in neither session. High-resolution EEG analyses indicated that intergroup differences were present in the low frequency range of waking baseline power spectra. Moreover, baseline delta emissions directly correlated with freezings, and inversely correlated with avoidances, while emissions at 7-10 Hz directly correlated with avoidances and inversely correlated with freezings. Interestingly, during the first training period, waking delta emission selectively increased in FL rats in concomitance with a marked performance improvement; instead, SL and NL rats displayed increments at 7-9 Hz. In addition, freezings scored during the first two training periods directly correlated with post-training waking emission at 2 Hz, and inversely correlated with emission at 7-10 Hz. Conversely, escapes and avoidances directly correlated with waking emission at 7-10 Hz. The data indicate that (i) waking baseline power spectra differ among behavioral groups, and correlate with behavioral performance the following day; (ii) selective modifications of waking power spectra occur in each behavioral group during training; and (iii) behavioral responses during training correlate with post-training waking power spectra. Notably, the delta increment selectively occurring in training FL rats is assumed to reflect online memory processing leading to better performance. The latter observation supports the primary involvement of delta waves in learning.