Instrumentation
Assessing Motor Function1. Open Field Test
2. Rotarod
3. Grip Strength
4. Neuroscreen
5. Rotometer
6. Cylinder Test
7. Noldus Tracking Software
Assessing Cognitive Function
1. Y-Maze
2. Fear Conditioning Test
3. Passive Avoidance
4. Object Recognition
5. Barnes Maze
Affective Behavioral Models
1. Elevate Plus Maze
2. Porsolt Forced Swim Test
3. Tail Suspension Test
4. Pre-Pulse Inhibition
The Barnes Maze is used to measure hippocampal function in preclinical models of Alzheimer’s disease. The maze consists of a flat circular surface with 20 equally spaced holes. Only one hole is open and allows the animal to escape the illuminated surface area. With repeated trials, animals with an intact memory system show a significant reduction in the number of errors and time it takes to locate the open hole. If the open hole is moved to another location in the maze, normal animals rapidly disengage from the previously learned information and relearn the new location. A deficit in learning and/or memory produce impaired performance in this test.
The Novel Object Recognition Test is used to measure learning and memory by assessing the ability of rodents to identify a previously introduced novel object. The test consists of two phases: in phase one, 2 identical objects are placed in an open field and the animal freely explores both objects; in phase 2, one of the objects is replaced with a new novel object. Normal animals tend to spend more time exploring the novel object compared to the familiar one, whereas animal with deficits in memory and learning do not recognize the new object as being novel. Impairment is detected by measuring the amount of time an animal spends with the familiar object in comparison to the novel one.
