The effects of apparatus design and test procedure on learning and memory performance of C57BL/6J mice on the Barnes maze

O’Leary, Timothy P.; Brown, Richard E.

doi:10.1016/j.jneumeth.2011.09.027

Cited by 62 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…The LBM was the most valid maze design for visuo-spatial learning and memory because (1) mice learned to use the spatial search strategy, (2) the size of the reversal effects was large, and (3) memory performance was good in probe trials where visuo-spatial cues were available and impaired when cues were blocked by a curtain. Together these results indicate that mice on the LBM reliably use the extra-maze visual cues to locate the escape hole using a visuo-spatial strategy, replicating our previous results (O 'Leary et al 2011;O'Leary and Brown 2012).…”

Section: Does Apparatus Design Determine the Validity Of The Barnes Msupporting

confidence: 90%

“…Based on our previous research (O 'Leary et al 2011;O'Leary and Brown 2012), the present experiment was conducted (1) to determine the sensitivities of three different Barnes maze designs for detecting impairments in visuo-spatial learning and memory; (2) to determine the most sensitive measures of learning and memory for each maze design; and (3) to determine the reliability of our previous results (O'Leary and Brown 2012) on the validity of each maze design as tests of visuo-spatial learning and memory. Mice completed acquisition and reversal training to assess learning, and probe trials to assess memory on three different Barnes maze designs: (1) a maze design with a small diameter, wall, and intramaze cues (SWBM); (2) a design with a small diameter and no wall (SBM); and (3) a design with a large diameter and no wall (LBM).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Optimization of apparatus design and behavioral measures for the assessment of visuo-spatial learning and memory of mice on the Barnes maze

O’Leary

Brown

2013

Learn. Mem.

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We have previously shown that apparatus design can affect visual -spatial cue use and memory performance of mice on the Barnes maze. The present experiment extends these findings by determining the optimal behavioral measures and test procedure for analyzing visuo-spatial learning and memory in three different Barnes maze designs. Male and female C57BL/6J mice were trained with a stable or random escape hole location and the sensitivities (statistical power) of four commonly used measures of learning and three measures of memory to detect differences between these training procedures were compared on each maze design. A maze design with a large diameter and no wall was optimal, because mice showed a reliable use of extra-maze visual cues, visuo-spatial search strategies, and spatial memory. A maze design with a small diameter, surrounding wall, and intra-maze visual cues was the least sensitive for determining visuo-spatial learning and memory, because mice showed little evidence of extra-maze cue use. Errors, distance traveled, and hole deviation scores were more sensitive measures of learning than latency to find the escape hole. Measures based on locating the escape hole (primary measures) were more sensitive than measures based on entering the escape hole (total measures). Measures of memory had similar levels of sensitivity on each maze. This experiment demonstrates that both apparatus design and the behavioral measures used as indicators of learning and memory can influence the ability of the Barnes maze to detect visuo-spatial learning and memory impairments in mice.

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Section: Does Apparatus Design Determine the Validity Of The Barnes Msupporting

confidence: 90%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimization of apparatus design and behavioral measures for the assessment of visuo-spatial learning and memory of mice on the Barnes maze

O’Leary

Brown

2013

Learn. Mem.

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“…However, extrapolation of this conclusion to other cognitive tests would be premature given that sex differences are observed in other behavior tasks. For example, significant differences in performance between C57BL/6 male and female mice have been reported in the novel object recognition test 94 and passive-avoidance test 95 (but not in the Barnes maze spatial navigation test 96,97 ), and our data suggest poorer performance of female mice on the y-maze test of spontaneous alternation behavior. These tests all rely on natural exploratory activities, and activational effects of estrogen 42 may influence attention and cognitive performance in these paradigms.…”

Section: Tucker Et Alsupporting

confidence: 44%

Performance of Male and Female C57BL/6J Mice on Motor and Cognitive Tasks Commonly Used in Pre-Clinical Traumatic Brain Injury Research

Tucker

McCabe

2016

Journal of Neurotrauma

115

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To date, clinical trials have failed to find an effective therapy for victims of traumatic brain injury (TBI) who live with motor, cognitive, and psychiatric complaints. Pre-clinical investigators are now encouraged to include male and female subjects in all translational research, which is of particular interest in the field of neurotrauma given that circulating female hormones (progesterone and estrogen) have been demonstrated to exert neuroprotective effects. To determine whether behavior of male and female C57BL6/J mice is differentially impaired by TBI, male and cycling female mice were injured by controlled cortical impact and tested for several weeks with functional assessments commonly employed in pre-clinical research. We found that cognitive and motor impairments post-TBI, as measured by the Morris water maze (MWM) and rotarod, respectively, were largely equivalent in male and female animals. However, spatial working memory, assessed by the y-maze, was poorer in female mice. Female mice were generally more active, as evidenced by greater distance traveled in the first exposure to the open field, greater distance in the y-maze, and faster swimming speeds in the MWM. Statistical analysis showed that variability in all behavioral data was no greater in cycling female mice than it was in male mice. These data all suggest that with careful selection of tests, procedures, and measurements, both sexes can be included in translational TBI research without concern for effect of hormones on functional impairments or behavioral variability.

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“…To probe spatial cognition in young (3 mo) TR mice, we used two behavioral paradigms: the Barnes maze and the HPWM. The Barnes maze is a dry-land maze well suited for assessing spatial learning and memory in mice (Mayford et al 1996;O'Leary and Brown 2012). Similar to the water maze, mice are trained to use visuospatial cues in the local or extra-maze environment to orient themselves and find a specific target.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this study, we asked whether deficits in spatial learning and memory previously reported in older E4 mice could be detected in younger animals using two behavioral paradigms: the Barnes circular maze and the hidden platform water maze (HPWM) (Barnes 1979;O'Leary and Brown 2012;Washington et al 2012). In addition, we examined whether APOE alleles differentially regulate dendritic morphology of principal cells in the medial entorhinal cortex (MEC), an important source of cortical input conveying spatial information to the hippocampus, and a structure that plays a critical role in spatial representation and navigation (van Groen et al 2003;Witter and Moser 2006;van Strien et al 2009).…”

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Young APOE4 targeted replacement mice exhibit poor spatial learning and memory, with reduced dendritic spine density in the medial entorhinal cortex

et al. 2013

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The apolipoprotein E4 allele is the strongest genetic risk factor for developing late-onset Alzheimer's disease, and may predispose individuals to Alzheimer's-related cognitive decline by affecting normal brain function early in life. To investigate the impact of human APOE alleles on cognitive performance in mice, we trained 3-mo-old APOE targeted replacement mice (E2, E3, and E4) in the Barnes maze to locate and enter a target hole along the perimeter of the maze. Long-term spatial memory was probed 24 h and 72 h after training. We found that young E4 mice exhibited significantly impaired spatial learning and memory in the Barnes maze compared to E3 mice. Deficits in spatial cognition were also present in a second independent cohort of E4 mice tested at 18 mo of age. In contrast, cognitive performance in the hidden platform water maze was not as strongly affected by APOE genotype. We also examined the dendritic morphology of neurons in the medial entorhinal cortex of 3-mo-old TR mice, neurons important to spatial learning functions. We found significantly shorter dendrites and lower spine densities in basal shaft dendrites of E4 mice compared to E3 mice, consistent with spatial learning and memory deficits in E4 animals. These findings suggest that human APOE-14 may affect cognitive function and neuronal morphology early in life.

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The effects of apparatus design and test procedure on learning and memory performance of C57BL/6J mice on the Barnes maze

Cited by 62 publications

References 43 publications

Optimization of apparatus design and behavioral measures for the assessment of visuo-spatial learning and memory of mice on the Barnes maze

Optimization of apparatus design and behavioral measures for the assessment of visuo-spatial learning and memory of mice on the Barnes maze

Performance of Male and Female C57BL/6J Mice on Motor and Cognitive Tasks Commonly Used in Pre-Clinical Traumatic Brain Injury Research

Young APOE4 targeted replacement mice exhibit poor spatial learning and memory, with reduced dendritic spine density in the medial entorhinal cortex

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