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Non-spatial water radial-arm maze learning in mice.
L A Hyde1, G F Sherman, V H Denenberg
1Dyslexia Research Laboratory, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Brain Research
|April 25, 2000
Summary
This study introduces a non-spatial radial-arm maze for assessing mouse memory. Male mice and those with cortical ectopias showed different memory performance compared to previous spatial maze studies.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Working and reference memory are crucial cognitive functions.
- The radial-arm maze is a common tool for assessing memory in rodents.
- Previous studies utilized a spatial radial-arm maze to evaluate memory in mice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a non-spatial version of the water radial-arm maze.
- To investigate learning differences between male and female BXSB mice.
- To examine memory performance in mice with and without neocortical ectopias.
Main Methods:
- A non-spatial radial-arm maze was employed.
- BXSB mice were trained to learn the maze.
- Performance was assessed by tracking working and reference memory errors.
- Comparisons were made between sexes and between mice with and without ectopias.
Main Results:
- BXSB mice demonstrated learning in the non-spatial maze.
- Male BXSB mice exhibited impaired working memory compared to females.
- Mice with neocortical ectopias did not show working memory impairments and performed better under high memory load.
Conclusions:
- The non-spatial radial-arm maze is a viable tool for assessing non-spatial memory in mice.
- Sex differences in working memory were observed in the non-spatial task.
- Neocortical ectopias did not impair working memory in this non-spatial paradigm, contrary to spatial maze findings.
- Both spatial and non-spatial versions of the radial-arm maze are valuable for memory assessment.