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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Morris Water Maze Experiment
04:45

Morris Water Maze Experiment

Published on: September 24, 2008

Morris Water Maze Experiment.

Joseph Nunez1

  • 1Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, nunezj@msu.edu.

Journal of Visualized Experiments : Jove
|December 11, 2008
PubMed
Summary

The Morris water maze assesses spatial learning in animals using an opaque pool and a hidden platform. Animals learn to navigate using external cues, demonstrating improved performance with familiarity.

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Area of Science:

  • Behavioral neuroscience
  • Cognitive psychology
  • Animal behavior research

Background:

  • The Morris water maze is a key tool for studying spatial memory and learning.
  • It involves animals navigating an opaque pool to find a hidden escape platform.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the efficacy of the Morris water maze as a standard paradigm.
  • To understand the reliance on extra-maze cues for spatial navigation.

Main Methods:

  • Animals are placed in an opaque pool of water.
  • A hidden escape platform must be located using external spatial cues.
  • Performance is measured by the time taken to find the platform.

Main Results:

  • Animals demonstrate improved spatial learning over time.
  • Familiarity with the task leads to quicker platform acquisition.
  • The task highlights the importance of external cues in spatial memory.

Conclusions:

  • The Morris water maze is a validated and reliable method for assessing spatial memory.
  • It serves as a gold standard in behavioral neuroscience research.
  • The paradigm effectively measures learning and memory consolidation.

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