Developments of a water-maze procedure for studying spatial learning in the rat

J Neurosci Methods. 1984 May;11(1):47-60. doi: 10.1016/0165-0270(84)90007-4.

Abstract

Developments of an open-field water-maze procedure in which rats learn to escape from opaque water onto a hidden platform are described. These include a procedure (A) for automatically tracking the spatial location of a hooded rat without the use of attached light-emitting diodes; (B) for studying different aspects of spatial memory (e.g. working memory); and (C) for studying non-spatial discrimination learning. The speed with which rats learn these tasks suggests that they may lend themselves to a variety of behavioural investigations, including pharmacological work and studies of cerebral function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cues
  • Discrimination Learning*
  • Escape Reaction*
  • Female
  • Male
  • Mental Recall
  • Neurophysiology / instrumentation*
  • Orientation*
  • Rats
  • Retention, Psychology
  • Swimming
  • Transfer, Psychology