RECOLLECTION OF WHAT-WHERE-WHICH MEMORY IN DEGUS (<i>OCTODON DEGUS</i>)

Abstract

To examine if a feature of episodic-like memory reported in rats is shared with other species, we investigated whether degus would form an integrated memory of object (what), place (where), and context (which). We used two E-shaped mazes with different contexts regarding the wall and the floor. Degus were entered into the middle arm and first explored the maze with two trial-unique objects placed at each end of the backbone of the E, with their location reversed between contexts. After being habituated to one of the objects in the holding cage, the degus re-explored the maze. Subjects explored the non-habituated object in these baseline trials. In the critical test, the objects were located at the end of the outer arms of the maze. Degus went into the arm where they expected the non-habituated object significantly more often than the other. This result suggests recollection of an integrated What-WhereWhich memory.

Phylogeny and ontogeny of mental time

“…In an alternative, non-foraging task of the WWW memory paradigm, degus were capable of recollecting the integrated memory of content ("what") and location ("where"), along with the environmental context ("on which occasion") (Betsuyaku et al, 2016). This finding, taken together with other positive reports in rodents (i.e.…”

Rats did not show evidence of prospective information-seeking: a pilot study

“…In this study, we used exploratory behavior as a sign of information-seeking responses, as it is one of the standard behavioral indicators in research on rodents (e.g., Winters et al, 2008 ; Fonio et al, 2009 ; Binder et al, 2012 ; Betsuyaku et al, 2016 ; Thompson et al, 2018 ); furthermore, it requires little in the way of training. Numerous studies have shown that exploratory duration and frequency may increase in unpredictable or uncertain situations.…”