MEMÓRIA ESPACIAL: Quais são suas características e como estudá-la em modelo animal

Abstract

The term memory has been described since the time of Platão, and during all these years it has undergone modifications and improvements. Today the term is based on processed and stored information, divided mainly into short-term memories (STM) and long-term memories (LTM). STM is associated with brain structures such as the prefrontal cortex and defined as working or operational memories. While LTM, processed mainly by the hippocampus and classified as declarative (or explicit) memories and non-declarative (or implicit) memories. Past events and retained experiences are examples of declarative memories. Motor skills are examples of non-declarative memories. To study both learning and stored memories, numerous tests have been created. Most of the tests used make use of labyrinths. Among the main ones used are aquatic and non-aquatic. Open mazes with multiple routes, such as the Barnes Maze – LB; Morris Water Maze – LAM are an example of aquatics. They have the advantage of not leaving clues between one test and another, but they work with aversive stimuli to the animals, which can generate some stress. For non-aquatics, we have the Object Recognition Test, the “Y” maze and the Lashley III maze. Depending on the cleaning between each test, these may interfere with the data collected in sequence. However, they have the advantage of using situations and inherent characteristics of the animal. Each has its advantages and disadvantages in applicability and obtaining data for scientific research.