McGauran, Anne-Marie T. and Harvey, Deirdre and Cunningham, Lorretto and Craig, Sarah and Commins, Sean (2004) Retention of cue-based associations in the water maze is time-dependent and sensitive to disruption by rotating the starting position. Behavioural Brain Research, 151 (1-2). pp. 255-266. ISSN 0166-4328

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Abstract

Research has focused mainly on the acquisition phase of spatial tasks, while retention has been relatively ignored. In three experiments, we determine the type of information that is retained in spatial memory using the water maze task. In experiment 1, we demonstrate that by rotating the distal cues 180° post-acquisition Wistar rats search in the opposite area to where the platform should be. This search continues for a maximum of 30 s. We then demonstrate (experiment 2) that by rotating the starting position (180° post-acquisition) animals remain at the starting-point for 10 s. They then commence searching in the platform area. In experiment 3, we demonstrate that rotations of distal cues and starting position post-acquisition impair retention of the platform’s location. We suggest that the association between the configuration of distal cues and platform location is retained in memory but the association is fragile and sensitive to disruption.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Water maze; Retention; Cue-rotation; Starting position rotation; Spatial memory;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > Psychology
Item ID:	10705
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2003.09.005
Depositing User:	Dr. Sean Commins
Date Deposited:	09 Apr 2019 14:58
Journal or Publication Title:	Behavioural Brain Research
Publisher:	Elsevier
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	https://www.sciencedirect.com
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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