Using any-maze software
After resting an additional 30 seconds in the chamber, the animal is repeated the CS and US again, and the animal remains in the chamber for an additional 30 seconds before being returned to its home cage. An unconditioned stimulus (US) of continuous foot shock (0.5mA) occurs during the last 2 seconds of the CS. Animal is placed in a conditioning chamber (Med Associates) for 3 minutes before onset of a 30 seconds conditioning sound stimulus (CS, 2800Hz&85dB). This test uses cued conditioning to evaluate amygdala function and contextual conditioning to evaluate hippocampal function. The visible platform test ensures visual impairment does not interfere with cognitive performance.Total swim distance and average speed can be calculated to determine if motor deficits interfere with cognitive function.Primary dependent variables of interest include latency, distance, and proximity to goal platform.Paradigms that evaluate reference and working memory are available. This test is used to assess spatial memory.Tests are video-tracked using AnyMaze, and analysis can provide information on the test animal’s hippocampus-dependent reference memory and prefrontal cortex working memory.
#USING ANY MAZE SOFTWARE SERIES#
A series of tests can measure a variety of memory and navigation tasks, as the test animal swims to the platform from various locations, or tries to find the platform after it has been removed. The test animal is placed in an open, circular pool in which there is a submerged platform. This is the most widely used test for measuring spatial navigation and reference memory.