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[Experiment-time affects the cognitive behavior in aged Sprague-Dawley rats]
Shi-Ning Deng1, Wen Si, Li-Juan Sun
1Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics of Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
Sheng Li Xue Bao : [Acta Physiologica Sinica]
|June 24, 2010
Summary
Experiment timing significantly impacts cognitive performance in aged rats, enhancing spatial memory in the afternoon but not social recognition. This suggests time-of-day effects are task-selective for aged rodent cognitive function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Animal Behavior
- Chronobiology
Background:
- Cognitive performance in aged animals can be influenced by various factors.
- Understanding the impact of experimental timing is crucial for reliable behavioral testing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of experiment time on cognitive performance in aged rats.
- To determine if time-of-day affects performance in different learning and memory tasks.
Main Methods:
- Aged Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into AM (8-11 AM) and PM (3-6 PM) experiment groups.
- Behavioral tests included the open field test, Morris water maze, and social discrimination test.
Main Results:
- PM group showed higher locomotor activity and improved spatial learning/memory in the Morris water maze compared to the AM group.
- No significant differences were observed in swimming velocity or social discrimination task performance.
- Experiment time selectively affected cognitive performance, notably in spatial tasks.
Conclusions:
- Experiment timing can selectively influence cognitive performance in aged rats.
- The time of day may impact spatial learning and memory but not social recognition in aged rodents.
