Journal article
Search strategy selection in the Morris water maze indicates allocentric map formation during learning that underpins spatial memory formation
J Rogers, L Churilov, AJ Hannan, T Renoir
Neurobiology of Learning and Memory | ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE | Published : 2017
Abstract
Using a Matlab classification algorithm, we demonstrate that a highly salient distal cue array is required for significantly increased likelihoods of spatial search strategy selection during Morris water maze spatial learning. We hypothesized that increased spatial search strategy selection during spatial learning would be the key measure demonstrating the formation of an allocentric map to the escape location. Spatial memory, as indicated by quadrant preference for the area of the pool formally containing the hidden platform, was assessed as the main measure that this allocentric map had formed during spatial learning. Our C57BL/6J wild-type (WT) mice exhibit quadrant preference in the high..
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Funding Acknowledgements
We kindly thank Dr. Tine Pooters for help in implementing our water maze high saliency distal cue array and Elise Wenban for the creating original artwork used therein. We also thank Drs A. Garthe and G. Kempermann for generously providing the MATLAB script and Prof. M. van den Buuse for sourcing the 5-HT<INF>1A</INF> receptor knockout mice. Matt Hudson gave technical assistance in helping to implement the search strategy analysis in our laboratory This work was supported by an ARC FT3 Future Fellowship (AJH) and ARC Discovery Early Career Research Award (TR). AJH is an NHMRC Principal Research Fellow. The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health acknowledges the support from the Victorian Government's Operational Infrastructure Support Grant.