Spontaneous behavior, sensorimotor reflexes and learning of 3-, 11-, 17- and 22-month-old virgin female NMRI mice were compared. Sensorimotor abilities decreased significantly from the age of 17 months in proportion to the muscular and equilibrium demand of the test. Open-field activity, hole board exploration as well as activity in the Y maze and plus maze decreased from the age of 11 months. However, in the open-field and Y maze, it was not possible to distinguish between 11-, 17- and 22-month-old mice, whereas in the plus maze, activity was drastically decreased in 17- and 22-month-old mice. In the plus maze, indices of fear-motivated behavior suggest a greater sensitivity to the situation in the age groups of 17 and 22 months. Spontaneous alternation also decreased from the age of 11 months, but at the age of 22 months, a rotational behavior emerged. Spatial learning was markedly impaired from middle age, i.e., 11 months, as indicated by longer latencies and absence of spatial bias in place learning. In cued learning, the 11- and 17-month groups eventually reached the level of the 3-month-old mice, while the 22-month age group remained impaired. Changes in swimming ability or speed did not appear to account for the swimming maze deficits. In contrast, a sensory or perceptual deficit cannot be excluded for the oldest mice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)