A bespoke water T-maze apparatus and protocol: an optimized, reliable, and repeatable method for screening learning,...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Animal Behavior
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• The Morris Water Maze (MWM) is standard for mouse learning/memory studies but suffers from methodological variability and stress.
• Stress and confounding behaviors (e.g., wall-hugging) in the MWM can compromise data reliability and animal welfare.
• Existing MWM protocols often require lengthy testing periods, impacting research efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a modified water-based maze to reduce stress and improve the assessment of learning, memory, and executive function in mice.
• To create a more efficient and reproducible behavioral assay compared to the traditional Morris Water Maze.
• To validate a novel Water T-Maze (WTM) protocol for robust cognitive evaluation.

Main Methods:

• Initially modified the MWM using a T-insert to reduce swim distance and stress.
• Developed a standalone Water T-Maze (WTM) by further reducing swim distance by 43%.
• Conducted five experiments to refine the WTM protocol and assess its performance for spatial learning, memory, and reversal learning.

Main Results:

• The T-insert modification successfully reduced stress and off-task behaviors in the MWM.
• The WTM demonstrated robust, reliable, and reproducible indicators of learning, memory, and executive functioning.
• The WTM protocol significantly reduced testing time, requiring 3 days compared to the MWM's 11 days.

Conclusions:

• The Water T-Maze (WTM) apparatus and refined protocol represent a significant improvement over the MWM for evaluating mouse cognition.
• The WTM enhances experimental reproducibility, generalizability, and animal welfare by minimizing stress and confounding behaviors.
• This novel assay offers a more efficient and effective approach to studying learning, memory, and executive functions in laboratory mice.