Stable, long-term, spatial memory in young and aged rats achieved with a one day Morris water maze training protocol

Ruth M Barrientos; Meagan M Kitt; Heather M D'Angelo; Linda R Watkins; Jerry W Rudy; Steven F Maier

doi:10.1101/lm.043489.116

Stable, long-term, spatial memory in young and aged rats achieved with a one day Morris water maze training protocol

Learn Mem. 2016 Nov 15;23(12):699-702. doi: 10.1101/lm.043489.116. Print 2016 Dec.

Authors

Ruth M Barrientos¹, Meagan M Kitt², Heather M D'Angelo², Linda R Watkins², Jerry W Rudy², Steven F Maier²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0345, USA [email protected].
² Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0345, USA.

Abstract

Here, we present data demonstrating that a 1 d Morris water maze training protocol is effective at producing stable, long-term spatial memory in both young (3 mo old) and aged (24 mo old) F344xBN rats. Four trials in each of four sessions separated by a 2.5 h ISI produced robust selective search for the platform 1 and 4 d after training, in both age groups. A 1 h ISI protocol did not produce good retention. Also, compressing the trials into just two sessions separated by a 2.5 h ISI produced limited retention in only young rats.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Aging / psychology*
Animals
Male
Maze Learning*
Memory, Long-Term
Psychological Tests
Rats, Inbred F344
Spatial Memory*
Time Factors

Grants and funding

R01 AG028271/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States