RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A Test of Memory: The Fish, The Mouse, The Fly And The Human
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2020.02.15.950816
DO 10.1101/2020.02.15.950816
A1 Cleal, Madeleine
A1 Fontana, Barbara D
A1 Ranson, Daniel C
A1 McBride, Sebastian D
A1 Swinny, Jerome D
A1 Redhead, Edward S
A1 Parker, Matthew O
YR 2020
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/02/16/2020.02.15.950816.abstract
AB 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.