What is the Morris water maze and how is it used to study hippocampus function?
The Morris water maze is widely used to study spatial memory and learning. Animals are placed in a pool of water that is colored opaque with powdered non-fat milk or non-toxic tempera paint, where they must swim to a hidden escape platform. Instead, they must rely on external/extra-maze cues.
What does Morris water maze assess?
A widely used model for studying learning and memory behavior in mice is the Morris water maze (MWM), which specifically assesses spatial learning and memory [11,15]. This task has the advantage of being acquired quickly without pre-training or restriction of food and water.
What is reference memory?
Reference memory is a long-term memory. In a spatial task, it mimics two aspects of episodic memory, namely the “what” (content) and “where” (place) dimensions of an event. One of the tasks most frequently used to assess spatial reference memory in the rat is the Morris water maze.
How does the Morris water maze work?
The Morris water maze tests impairments in visual short-term memory and visual–spatial abilities in small rodents [69, 70]. In the water maze test, the mice are placed in a large circular pool filled with opaque water and are given the task to swim to a platform that can be either visible or hidden.
What is the meaning of spatial learning?
Spatial learning refers to the process by which an organism acquires a mental representation of its environment. Spatial learning has been found in both vertebrate and invertebrate species.
What is the Morris water maze test?
The Morris water maze (MWM) is a test of spatial learning for rodents that relies on distal cues to navigate from start locations around the perimeter of an open swimming arena to locate a submerged escape platform. Spatial learning is assessed across repeated trials and reference memory is determin …
What are the different types of water maze protocols?
Typical water maze protocols consist of visible platform trial(s), hidden platform trials and a probe trial, the order of which varies [1-3]. There are three basic types of trials in the water maze escape task: 1) In the cued version or visible platform trialsthe platform is visible to the animal.
What is the water maze test for mice?
In the water maze test, the mice are placed in a large circular pool filled with opaque water and are given the task to swim to a platform that can be either visible or hidden. No gross impairment in swimming ability was observed in either the knockout mice or the control group.
Is the MWM a maze?
The MWM is not a maze in the usual sense — that is, it is not a labyrinth; rather, it is an open circular pool that is filled approximately half-way with water. The interior is made such that it is as close to being featureless as possible.