Simultaneous visual discrimination learning in lurcher mutant mice

Lurcher mutants were evaluated in the acquisition of a visual discrimination learning task with water escape as a reward. In comparison to normal mice, lurchers were impaired in discrimination learning in a manner not explainable by motor deficits. Although in initial trials the mutants had difficulty in finding the correct invisible platform, in agreement with previous findings of deficits in visuo-spatial organization, they eventually were able to find the quadrants where one of two platforms was situated but even so took longer to reach criterion in choosing the correct one. These results agree with the hypothesis that the cerebellum is involved in the acquisition of visual discrimination tasks in mice.