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Small Animal Behavior Core Laboratory
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Y-Maze
Description:
Spontaneous alternation.
This Y maze is used to assess (without food deprivation or other aversive
procedures) the normal navigation behaviors of rodents. Test subjects are
placed in a Y-shaped maze for 5 to 8 min. All arm entries are sequentially
scored so that the total number of arm entries, as well as the sequence of
entries, are recorded. Data are analyzed to determine the number of arm
entries without repetition. Success in this test is indicated by a high
rate of alternation in the control groups indicating that the animals can
remember which arm was entered last.
Two-trial recognition memory test. Another use of the Y-maze is the
recognition memory test. With one arm of the Y maze blocked, the subject is
placed in one of the arms and is allowed to explore the 2 arms for 15
minutes. The subject is returned to the maze 1-4 hours later with all arms
open and is scored for 5 minutes.
The
first arm entered, the amount of time spent in each arm, and the number of
entries into each arm is recorded. Seven to ten days later the test is
repeated with a delay time of only 2 minutes between the trials.
Purpose:
Each of the Y-maze tests has been shown to be sensitive to hippocampal
damage, gene manipulations, and amnestic drugs. The Y-maze test is
particularly useful as an initial test of memory function in mice |