Eight ways to avoid the maze test method

Experimental method

1)

After 1 weeks, the animals were adapted to the experimental environment, and the animals were weighed and fasting for 24 hours. Since then every eight arm radial maze training after the end of the restrictions given normal diet (according to different weight, 16 to 20 gram of rats mice 2-3g). In order to keep their weight in normal eating 80% - 85% of rats.

2)

Second days, the maze of the arm and the central distinction between the food particles (each only 4~5 tablets, diameter of about 3~4mm). Then, 4 animals were placed in the center of the maze (open to the door of each arm). Let the freedom to feed, explore 10min.

3)

Third days, second days of training. This process allows animals to be familiar with the maze environment without strong stress conditions.

4)

The fourth day, a single animal training: in each arm near the outer end hamper put a star of food particles, allowing animals free feeding. After eating or 10min will be taken out of the animal.

5) fifth days, put food in the hamper, repeat the day before training, 2 times a day.

6)

The six days later, randomly selected 4 arms, each arm on a piece of food grains; eight arm radial maze arms each door is closed, animals in the middle of the maze; after 30 seconds, open the door of the arm, let the animals in the maze freedom of movement and uptake of food particles, animals until finished all four arm of food grains. If the 10min food grain is still not finished, then the experiment is terminated. Training two times a day, during which interval 1h.

Xmaze animal behavior software will automatically record the following 4 indicators: 1 working memory errors (memory working

(errors) 2 reference memory error (memory errors reference)

3 the total number of arms in the arm; 4 test time, that is, the time the animal ate all the food grains.