Name: Morris Water Maze Test for Learning and Memory Deficits in Alzheimers Disease Model Mice (Video) | JoVE Journal
Uploaded: 2011-07-20T13:00:00.000+00:00
Duration: 7 min 2 s
Description: Learn the Morris Water Maze protocol to assess hippocampal-dependent learning and memory in Alzheimer's disease model mice. This method tracks escape latencies and swim patterns to evaluate spatial cognition and treatment effects.

ai_agent_IP

ai_agent

maintenance

instantTrialDurationMinutes

isBiopharma

enableNewMyJoveSectionDesign

educationFeatures

seoMetaApi

ai_copilot_institution_blacklist

ai_chat_institution_blacklist

freeAccessWindow

ssoRoleCapture

scheduledMaintenanceBanner

joveLabsFeatures

disable_autoplay_for_bots

extended_trial_duration

5 minutes

This work was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Townsend Family, and Jack Brown and Family Alzheimer&#x2019;s Research Foundation (to W. S.). W. S. is the holder of the Canada Research Chair in Alzheimer's Disease. P.L. was supported by a NSERC Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship Doctoral Research Award and a Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Senior Graduate Studentship.

1. Preparation
<ol>
<li>Equipment preparation<ol>
 <li>Obtain a circular pool with a diameter of 150cm and a depth of 50cm (Fig. 1). If using black mice, a white pool should be used; if using white mice, a black pool should be used.</li>
 <li>Arrange the room such that the animal being tested cannot see the experimenter during testing. This can be accomplished with drapes or room dividers.</li>
 <li>Place high contrast spatial cues about the room, and/or on the interior of the pool at a location which would be above the water surface.</li>
 <li>Place a 10cm diameter platform in the pool – white for a white pool, clear plexiglass for a black pool. Fill the pool with water until the platform is 1cm above the water surface. Let the water equilibrate to room temperature (22 °C). Depending on the water temperature this may take one to three days, or alternatively hot water can be added to speed up the equilibration.</li></ol></li>

 <li>Software preparation<ol>
 <li>Calibrate the pool in the computer software so the camera can create physical distance information from pixel-based information. Divide the pool into 4 quadrants. Specify the platform zone as a variable zone which can change with each trial. Create 5 platform subzones – one in each quadrant, and one in the center of the pool. Save the calibration and use it for the remaining test days. (See example Fig. 2).</li>
 <li>Set the maximum trial time as 60 sec. If the mouse finds the platform before this time, program the software to stop the trial when the platform is found.</li>
 <li>Specify the program to begin tracking automatically, when the experimenter exits the testing area. Utilize any “reflection minimization” options your software package provides.</li>
 <li>Track path length, escape latency, and time spent in each quadrant.</li></ol></li>

</ol>
2. Day 1: Visible Platform
<ol>
 <li>Computer Program<ol>
 <li>Load the pool calibration into the tracking software.</li>
 <li>Create 5 trials, with an inter-trial interval appropriate for your experiment. Program the platform location and starting direction to differ with each trial. See Table 1 for an example protocol.</li></ol></li>
 <li>Testing procedure<ol>
 <li>Transfer the mice from their housing facility to the behavior room. Keep the mice in an area where they cannot see the pool or spatial cues. Let them adjust to the new environment for at least 30 minutes before testing.</li>
 <li>Place a flag on the platform to increase its visibility.</li>
 <li>To begin testing, lift mouse from the home cage by the base of the tail. Support the mouse as you bring it to the testing area. Lifting the mouse by the base of the tail, gently place the mouse into the water, facing the edge of the pool. Quickly leave the testing area.</li>
 <li>If the mouse finds the platform before the 60 sec cut-off, allow the mouse to stay on the platform for 5 seconds then return it to its home cage. If the mouse does not find the platform, place the mouse on the platform and allow it to stay there for 20 sec before returning it to its home cage.</li> 
 <li>Repeat for all mice in the trail. Begin each subsequent trial with a different platform location and starting direction, as you have programmed into your software.</li>
 <li>When testing is complete, return the mice to their housing facility. Mice are dried off and normothermia is assured prior to returning to animal facility.</li>
 <li>In preparation for the following day, remove the flag from the platform and add additional water to the pool to submerge the platform to 1cm below the surface. </li></ol></li>

</ol>
3. Days 2-5: Hidden Platform
<ol>
 <li>Computer Program<ol>
 <li>Load the pool calibration into the tracking software.</li>
 <li>Create 5 trials, with an inter-trial interval appropriate for your experiment. Program the platform location to remain in the same position throughout all trials and days, but have the starting direction differ with each trial, each day.</li></ol></li>
 <li>Testing procedure<ol>
 <li>For black mice, add non-toxic, white, powdered tempera paint to the pool and mix thoroughly. Use enough paint such that the submerged platform is not visible from the surface of the water. For white mice, a black pool with clear water and a clear plexiglass platform should be used.</li>
 <li>Follow steps 2.2.3 to 2.2.6.</li></ol></li>
</ol>
4. Day 6: Probe Trial
<ol>
 <li>Computer Program<ol>
 <li>Load the pool calibration into the tracking software.</li>
 <li>Create 1 trial with no platform zone, and one starting direction. The starting direction farthest from the platform quadrant used on days 2-5 is preferred. Set the trail length to 60 sec.</li></ol></li>
 <li>Testing procedure<ol>
 <li>Remove the platform from the pool.</li>
 <li>Follow steps 2.2.3 to 2.2.6.</li>
 </ol></li>
</ol>
5. Data analysis
<ol>
<li>For each day and each mouse, average the 5 trials to give a single path length and escape latency for each test subject. Calculate the combined error appropriately. For day 6, simply collect the path length, escape latency, and time spent in the platform quadrant for each mouse.</li>
<li>If any differences exist between groups on Day 1, it is likely a problem with vision rather than learning and memory. Only proceed with analysis if no differences are seen on day 1.</li>
<li>Compare the learning curves for Days 2-5 using statistics appropriate for your data set. A steeper curve represents faster task acquisition; a shallower curve represents a deficit in task acquisition. The data from day 2 to day 5 are analyzed using ANOWA.</li>
<li>For day 6, compare the percent of time spent in the previously learned platform quadrant, using statistics appropriate for your data set. A higher percentage of time spent in the platform quadrant is interpreted as a higher level of memory retention.</li>
</ol>
6. Representative Results
We have used the Morris Water Maze test to examine hypoxia’s effect on AD pathogenesis (7) and valproic acid (VPA)’s pharmaceutical potential for AD treatment (6) in transgenic AD model mice. Figure 3 is the representative result we reported in our study on VPA’s effect on memory deficits in the APP23 AD mouse model (6). On day 1 (visible platform trials), there is no difference between the VPA treated and control groups in latency (Fig. 3A) and path length (Fig. 3A) indicating that both of the groups have similar motor and visual capabilities. From this we assume the mice are able to see the flagged-platform and the cues in surrounding environment, and can swim acceptably. For days 2-5 (Day 1 to 4 of hidden platform trials) the example shows a difference in the escape latency (Fig. 3C) and path length (Fig 3D) between the groups, suggesting that VPA treated mice performed significantly better than controls over time. The probe trail results on the last day (Day 6) show that the number of times the mice traveled into the third quadrant, where the hidden platform was previously placed, was significantly greater with VPA treatment compared to control (Fig. 3E). These data indicate that VPA treatment significantly improves the memory deficits seen in APP23 mice.
<img src="/files/ftp_upload/2920/2920fig1.jpg" alt="Water displacement experiment setup; cylindrical tank for fluid dynamics study." data-altupdatedat="1788235205000" data-alt="Figure 1"> 
Figure 1. Equipment setup for the Morris Water Maze visible platform test day. The pool is shielded from the experimenter using room dividers. Spatial cues are located on the walls, and maybe placed on the interior of the pool, above the water surface, if desired. The pool is filled with clear water, with the platform located 1cm above the surface. A flag has been placed on the platform to enhance visibility. 
<img src="/files/ftp_upload/2920/2920fig2.jpg" alt="Petri dish analysis software interface; image shows microbial growth measurement setup." data-altupdatedat="1788235205000" data-alt="Figure 2"> 
Figure 2. Screen capture from the Any-Maze™ Video Tracking System demonstrating pool calibration. The pool is viewed from above by a black and white analog tracking camera with a RTV24 Digitizer. Several zones are defined within the software and the total pool is divided into 4 quadrants. A fifth, platform zone is entered which can vary across trials, with five possible locations: NW, NE, SW, SE, or Center. A calibration line (ticked line across center) is added to allow the software to convert pixel distances into physical distances. 
<img src="/files/ftp_upload/2920/2920fig3.jpg" alt="Behavioral experiment results; bar, line graphs comparing control vs. VPA on escape latency, path length." data-altupdatedat="1788235205000" data-alt="Figure 3"> 
Figure 3. Representative results for the Morris Water Maze. The 7-month APP23 transgenic mice carrying human Swedish mutant APP gene were tested after one month of daily VPA (n=30 mice) or vehicle solution (n=30 mice) injections. (A) During the first day of visible platform tests, the VPA treated and control APP23 mice exhibited a similar latency to escape onto the visible platform. P&gt;0.05 by student’s t-test. (B) The VPA-treated and control APP23 mice had similar swimming distances before escaping onto the visible platform in the visible platform test. P&gt;0.05 by student’s t-test. (C) In hidden platform tests, VPA treated APP23 mice showed a shorter latency to escape onto the hidden platform on the 3rd and 4th day, P&lt;0.001 by ANOVA. (D) The VPA-treated APP23 mice had a shorter swimming length before escaping onto the hidden platform on the 3rd and 4th day, P&lt; 0.01 by ANOVA. (E) In the probe trial on the 6th day, the VPA-treated APP23 mice traveled into the third quadrant, where the hidden platform was previously placed, significantly more times than controls. * P&lt;0.005 by student’s t-test. (Adapted and reprinted from The Journal of Experimental Medicine 205, 2781-2789, 2008, Rockefeller University Press, Originally published in J. Exp. Med. doi:10.1084/jem.20081588.) (6).



<table border="1">
 <tbody>
 <tr>
 <td> </td>
 <td colspan="2">Day 1</td> 
 <td>Day 2</td>
 <td>Day 3</td>
 <td>Day 4</td>
 <td>Day 5</td>
 <td>Day 6</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td> </td>
 <td>Platform location</td>
 <td>Starting Direction</td>
 <td colspan="4">Platform Location: SW
Starting Location as follows:
</td>
 <td>No platform.</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Trial 1</td>
 <td>SW</td>
 <td>S</td>
 <td>W</td>
 <td>N</td>
 <td>N</td>
 <td>E</td>
 <td>N</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Trial 2</td>
 <td>NW</td>
 <td>N</td>
 <td>S</td>
 <td>W</td>
 <td>E</td>
 <td>S</td>
 <td> </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Trial 3</td>
 <td>NE</td>
 <td>S</td>
 <td>N</td>
 <td>E</td>
 <td>W</td>
 <td>W</td>
 <td> </td> 
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Trial 4</td>
 <td>Center</td>
 <td>E</td>
 <td>E</td>
 <td>W</td>
 <td>S</td>
 <td>E</td>
 <td> </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Trial 5</td>
 <td>SE</td>
 <td>W</td>
 <td>S</td>
 <td>S</td>
 <td>N</td>
 <td>N</td> 
 <td> </td> 
 </tr>
 </tbody>
</table>
Table 1. Sample water maze protocol* 
* Note how both the platform position and starting direction change on day 1, whereas on days 2-5 the platform position remains constant while the starting direction changes. On day 6, there is no platform and a single trial. The starting direction for day 6 is farthest from the previous platform location (SW) so that the mice must travel some distance before entering the previously learned platform quadrant.

<ol><li>Morris, R. G. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Spatial+localization+does+not+require+the+presence+of+local+cues%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Learning+and+Motivation%22%5BJournal%5D)">Spatial localization does not require the presence of local cues.</a> Learning and Motivation. 12, 239-260 (1981).</li>
<li>O'Keefe, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((A+review+of+the+hippocampal+place+cells%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Prog+Neurobiol%22%5BJournal%5D)">A review of the hippocampal place cells.</a> Prog Neurobiol. 13, 419-439 (1979).</li>
<li>Scoville, W. B., Milner, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Loss+of+recent+memory+after+bilateral+hippocampal+lesions%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Neurol+Neurosurg+Psychiatry%22%5BJournal%5D)">Loss of recent memory after bilateral hippocampal lesions.</a> J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 20, 11-21 (1957).</li>
<li>Eichenbaum, H., Stewart, C., Morris, R. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Hippocampal+representation+in+place+learning%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Neurosci%22%5BJournal%5D)">Hippocampal representation in place learning.</a> J Neurosci. 10, 3531-3542 (1990).</li>
<li>Block, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Global+ischemia+and+behavioural+deficits%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Progress+in+Neurobiology%22%5BJournal%5D)">Global ischemia and behavioural deficits.</a> Progress in Neurobiology. 58, 279-295 (1999).</li>
<li>Qing, H., He, G., Ly, P. T., Fox, C. J., Staufenbiel, M., Cai, F., Zhang, Z., Wei, S., Sun, X., Chen, C. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Valproic+acid+inhibits+Abeta+production%2C+neuritic+plaque+formation%2C+and+behavioral+deficits+in+Alzheimer%27s+disease+mouse+models%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Exp+Med%22%5BJournal%5D)">Valproic acid inhibits Abeta production, neuritic plaque formation, and behavioral deficits in Alzheimer's disease mouse models.</a> J Exp Med. 205, 2781-2789 (2008).</li>
<li>Sun, X., He, G., Qing, H., Zhou, W., Dobie, F., Cai, F., Staufenbiel, M., Huang, L. E., Song, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Hypoxia+facilitates+Alzheimer%27s+disease+pathogenesis+by+up-regulating+BACE1+gene+expression%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Proc+Natl+Acad+Sci+U+S+A%22%5BJournal%5D)">Hypoxia facilitates Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis by up-regulating BACE1 gene expression.</a> Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. , 18727-18732 (2006).</li>
<li>D'Hooge, R., De Deyn, P. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Applications+of+the+Morris+water+maze+in+the+study+of+learning+and+memory%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Brain+Research+Reviews%22%5BJournal%5D)">Applications of the Morris water maze in the study of learning and memory.</a> Brain Research Reviews. 36, 60-90 (2001).</li>
<li>Brandeis, R., Brandys, Y., Yehuda, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((The+use+of+the+Morris+Water+Maze+in+the+study+of+memory+and+learning%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Int+J+Neurosci%22%5BJournal%5D)">The use of the Morris Water Maze in the study of memory and learning.</a> Int J Neurosci. 48, 29-69 (1989).</li>
<li>Lipp, H. P., Wolfer, D. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Genetically+modified+mice+and+cognition%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Curr+Opin+Neurobiol%22%5BJournal%5D)">Genetically modified mice and cognition.</a> Curr Opin Neurobiol. 8, 272-280 (1998).</li>
<li>Sandi, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((The+role+and+mechanisms+of+action+of+glucocorticoid+involvement+in+memory+storage%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Neural+Plast%22%5BJournal%5D)">The role and mechanisms of action of glucocorticoid involvement in memory storage.</a> Neural Plast. 6, 41-52 (1998).</li>
</ol>

All experiments were conducted in accordance with The University of British Columbia Animal Care and Use committee and CIHR guidelines.

Age, sex, species, and strain differences influence MWM performance (8). Studies indicate that aged mice have poor performance in the MWM, while male rodents perform better than females; additionally, floating is more pronounced in mice than rats (9, 10). Therefore, these elements should be equated across all tests. Evidence also suggests that stressed animals perform more poorly in the MWM (11), thus environmental factors which may cause stress, such as temperature, light, and noise, should be monitored and kept constant over the task.

<table><tbody><tr><td>AnyMaze Video Tracking System</td><td>Stoelting Co.</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Tempera Paint</td><td>Reeves Poole Groups</td><td></td><td>White, powdered</td></tr></tbody></table>

morris water maze test for learning and memory deficits in alzheimer&#39;s disease model mice

Morris Water Maze Test for Learning and Memory Deficits in Alzheimer&#39;s Disease Model Mice

The Morris Water Maze (MWM) was first established by neuroscientist Richard G. Morris in 1981 in order to test hippocampal-dependent learning, including acquisition of spatial memoryand long-term spatial memory 1. The MWM is a relatively simple procedure typically consisting of six day trials, the main advantage being the differentiation between the spatial (hidden-platform) and non-spatial (visible platform) conditions 2-4. In addition, the MWM testing environment reduces odor trail interference 5. This has led the task to be used extensively in the study of the neurobiology and neuropharmacology of spatial learning and memory. The MWM plays an important role in the validation of rodent models for neurocognitive disorders such as Alzheimer&#x2019;s Disease 6, 7. In this protocol we discussed the typical procedure of MWM for testing learning and memory and data analysis commonly used in Alzheimer&#x2019;s disease transgenic model mice.

The Morris Water Maze is a behavioral task to test hippocampal-dependent learning and memory. It has been widely used in the study of neurobiology, neuropharmacology and neurocognitive disorders in rodent models.

The Morris Water Maze (MWM) was first established by neuroscientist Richard G. Morris in 1981 in order to test hippocampal-dependent learning, including ...

The overall goal of the following experiment is to test hippocampal dependent learning and memory. On day one, the mouse is trained to find a raised flagged platform that is randomly placed in a pool of clear water to allow the mouse to learn that the task has an escapable endpoint. As a second step, the mouse is trained on subsequent days by being released into a pool of opaque water from different positions with the platform submerged and fixed in one location.This allows the mouse to learn the location of the platform by using the surrounding cues. Next, the platform is removed on the final day and the swim pattern of the mouse is tracked for one minute in order to access task acquisition. And hence, learning and memory results are obtained.That show impairments in spatial learning and memory based on the escape latencies and path length seen in the three different testing conditions. The main advantage of this technique over existing masses is that it's relatively simple to differentiate between special hidden platform and non-special visible platform conditions. Generally, people new to this method may struggle cause it's sensitive to experimental handling.You have to ensure the mice aren't stress during the procedures, this could affect the results. Demonstrating this procedure will be Ms.Kelly Bromley breaths and Miss Sweden graduate students from my laboratories First secure a circular pool. If the experimental mice are black, use a white pool and if mice are white, use a black pool.Now.Arrange the room with dividers such that the animals being tested will not see the experimenter during testing place. High contrast spatial cues about the room and on the interior of the pool at a location that will be above the water surface. Fill the pool with water and equilibrate to room temperature.Then place a 10 centimeter diameter platform in the pool, one centimeter above the water surface, white for a white pool, or clear plexiglass for a black pool. Calibrate the pool in the computer software so the camera can create physical distance information. From pixel based information.Divide the pool into four quadrants. Specify the platform zone as a variable zone, which can change with each trial. Then create five platform sub zones, one in each quadrant, and one in the center of the pool.Save the calibration and use it for the remaining test days. Next, set the maximum trial time as 60 seconds. If the mouse finds the platform before this time, program the software to stop the trial when the platform is found.Also specify the program to begin tracking automatically when the experimenter exits the testing area. Utilize any reflection minimization options the software package provides. Finally, track path, length, escape, latency, and time spent in each quadrant.On the day of testing, transfer the mice from their housing facility to the behavior room In an area where they cannot see the pool or spatial cues. Let them adjust to the new environment for at least 30 minutes. Before testing, load the pool calibration into the tracking software.Create five trials with an appropriate inter trial interval program, the platform location, and starting direction to differ with each trial. Place a flag on the platform to increase its visibility. To begin testing, lift the mouse from the home cage by the base of the tail, supporting the mouse during transfer to the testing area.Then gently place the mouse into the water facing the edge of the pool. Quickly leave the testing area. If the mouse finds the platform before the 62nd cutoff, allow the mouse to stay on the platform for five seconds, then return it to its home cage.If the mouse does not find the platform, place the mouse on the platform and allow it to stay there for 20 seconds before returning it to its home cage. Repeat for all mice in the trial. Begin each subsequent trial with a different platform location and starting direction according to the program software.When testing is complete, return the mice to their housing facility in preparation for the following day. Remove the flag from the platform and add additional water to the pool to submerge the platform to one centimeter below the surface. Load the pool calibration into the tracking software and create five trials with an appropriate inter trial interval.Then program the platform location to remain in the same position throughout all trials and days, but have the starting direction differ with each trial each day. For black mice, add non-toxic white powdered temperate paint to the pool and mix thoroughly. Use enough paint such that the submerged platform is not visible from the surface of the water.Proceed to test individual mice in the water as described earlier for the final probe trial. Load the pool calibration into the tracking software. Create one trial with no platform zone and one starting direction.Preferably the starting direction farthest from the platform quadrant used on days two to five. Also set the trail length to 60 seconds. Now remove the platform from the pool and test individual mice in the water as described earlier for each day and each mouse average the five trials to give a single path length and escape latency for each test subject.Further, analyze and interpret data as detailed in the accompanying manuscript using the Morris water maze. Seven month a PP 23 transgenic mice carrying the human Swedish mutant A PP gene were tested after one month of daily valproic acid or vehicle solution injections during the first day of visible platform tests. The VPA treated and control A PP 23 mice exhibited a similar latency to escape onto the visible platform.The VPA treated and control A PP 23 mice had similar swimming distances before escaping onto the visible platform. In the visible platform test in hidden platform tests on the third and fourth day, VPA treated a PP 23 mice showed a shorter latency to escape onto the hidden platform. On the third and fourth day, the VPA treated a PP 23 mice had a shorter swimming length before escaping onto the hidden platform.In the probe trial on the sixth day, compared to control mice, the VPA treated a PP 23 mice traveled significantly more times into the third quadrant where the hidden platform was previously placed. While attempting this procedure is important to remember to monitor the environmental factors that might cause stress, such as noise, temperature, And light. Following this procedure, other methods such as queued and contextual fear conditioning can be performed to answer additional questions such as whether the learning deficits are specific to the hippocampus or whether it's part of a broader neurocognitive problem, which may include the amygdala.

morris-water-maze-test-for-learning-memory-deficits-alzheimer-s

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

The Morris water maze is a well-accepted tool used to document the involvement of the hippocampus in a behavioral task.

Morris Water Maze Experiment

The Lashley III maze is a route-learning task that does not rely on aversive stimuli or visual cues. It is thus a highly attractive option for evaluating learning and memory, especially in aging mice or otherwise where stress is a consideration.

Low-stress Route Learning Using the Lashley III Maze in Mice

Mice can swim, but many strains appear to find this activity stressful. To overcome this problem mazes have been devised where escape from shallow water is used to motivate behaviour. These have been demonstrated to support learning at least as good as the traditional and widely used Morris water maze.

Shallow Water (Paddling) Variants of Water Maze Tests in Mice

Cognitive impairment resulting from the radiotherapeutic management of brain tumors represents a clinically intractable condition that adversely impacts quality of life.  The capability to critically evaluate potential interventions for ameliorating radiation-induced cognitive decrements ultimately depends on the capability to undertake rigorous quantitative assessments of cognition.

Quantifying Cognitive Decrements Caused by Cranial Radiotherapy

In this video, we describe the Morris water maze test with platform relocation, a navigational task used to study working memory in rodents.

The Water Maze with Platform Relocation: A Method to Assess Working Memory

This manuscript describes a Morris water maze (MWM) protocol tailored for use with a commonly used mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. The MWM is widely used in transgenic mouse models. Implementation of a procedure sensitive to the background strain of the mouse model is essential for detecting group differences.

Morris Water Maze Test: Optimization for Mouse Strain and Testing Environment

To investigate the co-morbid Alzheimer's disease (AD) and stroke condition in a novel model, three behavior tasks are described that assess both motor control and cognitive behaviors. These tasks include the beam-walk task, cylinder task and Morris water maze.

Motor and Hippocampal Dependent Spatial Learning and Reference Memory Assessment in a Transgenic Rat Model of Alzheimer's Disease with Stroke

Here we present a protocol for a mouse-specific test of cognition that does not require swimming. This test can be used to successfully distinguish controlled cortical impact-induced traumatic brain injury mice from sham controls.

Assessing Spatial Memory Impairment in a Mouse Model of Traumatic Brain Injury Using a Radial Water Tread Maze

Herein, a protocol to conduct the Morris water maze tests to evaluate the ability of learning and memory of Alzheimer’s Disease model mice and to assess the effect of manual acupuncture for treating them is described.

Analysis of Learning and Memory Ability in an Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Model using the Morris Water Maze

We present a low-cost method to design and construct a light headstage pre-amplifier system with simultaneous neural recording and stimulation capability. This device can be waterproofed for use in swimming animals.

Design and Construction of a Cost Effective Headstage for Simultaneous Neural Stimulation and Recording in the Water Maze

Learn the Morris Water Maze protocol to assess hippocampal-dependent learning and memory in Alzheimer's disease model mice. This method tracks escape latencies and swim patterns to evaluate spatial cognition and treatment effects.

Morris Water Maze Test for Learning and Memory Deficits in Alzheimer's Disease Model Mice

Explore More Videos