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Stress-induced disturbances in Morris water-maze performance: interstrain variability
D D Francis1, M D Zaharia, N Shanks
1Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Verdun, Québec, Canada.
Physiology & Behavior
|July 1, 1995
Summary
Mouse strain significantly impacts learning and memory in the Morris water-maze. Stress affects reversal learning, particularly in BALB/cByJ mice, suggesting perseveration rather than disrupted associations.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Animal Models
Background:
- The Morris water-maze is a key tool for studying spatial learning and memory.
- Strain-dependent differences in cognitive abilities are well-documented in rodents.
- Understanding stress effects on learning is crucial for cognitive research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate strain differences in spatial learning and memory using the Morris water-maze.
- To examine the impact of inescapable foot shock on learning, performance, and reversal.
- To differentiate between response perseveration and disrupted associations under stress.
Main Methods:
- Utilized four mouse strains (DBA/2J, C57BL/6J, BALB/cByJ, CD-1) in a Morris water-maze task.
- Assessed acquisition, performance, and reversal of a place learning response.
- Administered uncontrollable foot shock to evaluate stress effects on cognitive tasks.
Main Results:
- Significant strain differences observed in learning and reversal tasks.
- BALB/cByJ mice showed impaired acquisition and significant reversal deficits after stress.
- Stress induced perseveration in BALB/cByJ mice, unlike other strains, suggesting distinct coping mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- Inescapable shock may impair performance through induced perseveration, not by disrupting response-outcome associations.
- Cognitive deficits and stress responses vary significantly across mouse strains.
- Strain-specific mechanisms underlie performance interference in spatial learning tasks.