A simple and reliable test of olfactory learning and memory in mice

The present paper describes a quick and efficient method for assessing olfactory discrimination learning in mice. In training mice received trials in which one odor (CS+) was paired with sugar and another odor (CS-) was paired with no sugar. When the mice were subsequently placed in a chamber with CS+ odor at one end and CS- odor at the other, they spent more time digging in CS+ than in CS- odor. In Experiment 2 mice trained with this procedure and tested after 60 days also spent more time digging in CS+ than CS- in the test phase, indicating that this olfactory discrimination task is effective for assessing long-term memory. In addition to the outbred strain of CD1 mice used in Experiments 1 and 2, C57Bl/6NCr/BR and DBA/2NCr/BR mice used in Experiment 3 also acquired this learned odor discrimination. Moreover, Experiment 4 showed that DBA animals were capable of acquiring this odor discrimination after receiving only two training trials (one exposure each to CS+ and CS-) per day for 4 days.