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A Test of Memory: The Fish, The Mouse, The Fly And The Human

Madeleine Cleal, Barbara D Fontana, Daniel C Ranson, Sebastian D McBride, Jerome D Swinny, Edward S Redhead, View ORCID ProfileMatthew O Parker
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.02.15.950816
Madeleine Cleal
aSchool of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, UK
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Barbara D Fontana
aSchool of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, UK
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Daniel C Ranson
cMedicines Research Group, University of East London, UK
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Sebastian D McBride
bAberystwyth University, Penglais, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, UK
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Jerome D Swinny
aSchool of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, UK
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Edward S Redhead
dDepartment of Psychology, University of Southampton, UK
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Matthew O Parker
aSchool of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, UK
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  • ORCID record for Matthew O Parker
  • For correspondence: matthew.parker@port.ac.uk
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Abstract

Simple mazes have provided numerous tasks for assessing working memory. The discrete nature of choices in the T-maze has provided a robust protocol with sensitivity to cognitive deficits, whilst the continuous Y-maze reduces manual handling and pre-trial training. We have combined these attributes to develop a new behavioural task for assessing working memory, the Free-movement pattern (FMP) Y-maze. Using sequentially recorded left and right turns we demonstrate that zebrafish and mice use a single dominant strategy predominantly consisting of alternations between left and right choices trial-to-trial. We further tested this protocol with Drosophila and discovered an alternative invertebrate search strategy. Finally, a virtual human FMP Y-maze confirmed a common strategy among all tested vertebrate species, validating the translational power of the task for human research. The FMP Y-maze combines robust investigation of working memory and high translational power, generating a simple task with far-reaching impact.

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The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under a CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.
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Posted February 16, 2020.
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A Test of Memory: The Fish, The Mouse, The Fly And The Human
Madeleine Cleal, Barbara D Fontana, Daniel C Ranson, Sebastian D McBride, Jerome D Swinny, Edward S Redhead, Matthew O Parker
bioRxiv 2020.02.15.950816; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.02.15.950816
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A Test of Memory: The Fish, The Mouse, The Fly And The Human
Madeleine Cleal, Barbara D Fontana, Daniel C Ranson, Sebastian D McBride, Jerome D Swinny, Edward S Redhead, Matthew O Parker
bioRxiv 2020.02.15.950816; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.02.15.950816

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