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Negative transfer effects between reference memory and working memory training in the water maze in C57BL/6 mice
Lucas Ezequiel Serrano Sponton1, Gonzalo Jose Soria2, Sylvain Dubroqua3
1Department of Neurosurgery, Mainz University Hospital, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany; Laboratorio de Neurociencias y Psicología Experimental, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, 5500, Mendoza, Argentina.
Prior spatial learning in one water maze test (working memory or reference memory) impairs performance in the subsequent test. This negative transfer effect necessitates careful interpretation of sequential water maze results.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- The water maze is a common tool for assessing spatial learning and memory in mice.
- Sequential testing of reference memory (RM) and working memory (WM) is frequent in cognitive profiling.
- Potential negative transfer effects between RM and WM water maze tests are often overlooked.
Purpose of the Study:
- To empirically determine the magnitude, persistence, and directionality of transfer effects between RM and WM water maze tests.
- To investigate if prior training in one memory domain negatively impacts performance in the other.
- To provide guidance for interpreting sequential water maze test results.
Main Methods:
- Utilized wild-type C57BL/6 mice divided into two cohorts with counterbalanced test orders (RM then WM, or WM then RM).
- Assessed spatial learning and memory performance in both reference memory and working memory water maze tasks.
- Statistically analyzed performance differences between cohorts and within individuals across sequential tests.
Main Results:
- Prior training in either the RM or WM water maze test significantly impaired performance in the subsequent test.
- Negative transfer effects were observed in both testing order directions, with moderate to large statistical effect sizes.
- While extended training could mitigate deficits, they could reappear later, though more transiently.
Conclusions:
- Sequential testing of RM and WM in the water maze can lead to significant negative transfer effects, regardless of test order.
- Researchers must exercise caution when interpreting results from the second-tested memory domain.
- Counterbalancing the order of RM and WM tests across subjects is strongly recommended to mitigate proactive interference.
