Methods (part 2)

Question 1

How can we measure the traits of Autism Spectrum Disorders, Fragile X, and Down’s Syndrome

Answer 1

contextual fear conditioning

Question 2

How can we measure the traits of Stroke

Answer 2

Radial arm maze

Question 3

How can we measure the trait of Hypoxaemia during birth

Answer 3

Branes maze

Question 4

How can we measure traits of Depression

Answer 4

Morris watermaze

Question 5

How can we measure traits of T2DM

Answer 5

Spontaneous alteration (T-maze)

Question 6

How can we measure the traits of Post-anaesthetic cognitive impairment

Answer 6

paired associate learning

Question 7

How can we measure the traits of various dementias

Answer 7

spontaneous novelty detection/recognition memory

Question 8

Working memory

Answer 8

• keeping something in mind
• active rehersal
• can be tested with digit span test -> once distracted, they might forget!
• very short term or temporary

Question 9

What different subtypes can long term memory be categorised into

Answer 9

• procedural memories
• declarative memory

Question 10

What are procedural memories

Answer 10

• associated with actions and motor activities (e.g. riding a bike)
• habitual
• hard to describe verbally

Question 11

What is declarative memory

Answer 11

• factual
• easy to describe verbally
• further divided into semantic and episodic memory

Question 12

What is the difference between episodic and semantic memories

Answer 12

• episodic is more personal and conxtetual, while semantic is more factual and do not have a clear source
• episodic memories tend to have emotions attached to them while semantic do not

Question 13

How can we study memory types?

Answer 13

• human studies
• animals cannot communicate enough
• more of a psychological categorisation

Question 14

What are the three phases of learning and memory

Answer 14

• encoding: inital learning
• storage: maintaining memories over time
• retrieval: test and recall

Question 15

What areas of the brain are associated with procedual memory

Answer 15

striatum and cerebellum

Question 16

What areas of the brain are associated with declarative memory

Answer 16

hippocampus and prefrontal cortex

Question 17

Deficits in procedural and declarative memory

Answer 17

• procedural deficits are rare (some in PD/HD)
• typically dementia is involved with declarative memory

Question 18

Difference between the translational and naturalistic approach

Answer 18

• translational: training an animal to mimic an effect
• naturalistic: relies on intrinsic skills or preferences

Question 19

Radial arm maze

Answer 19

• mouse explores multiple arms in a maze, navigating using cues from around room
• food baited, others unrewarded
• number of entries to each arm is recorded
• animal must remember which arm is baited (reference memory)
• animal must remember which arms he has visited within the current trial (working memory)
• need controls of food odour and animal scent marking

Question 20

Barnes maze

Answer 20

• multiple holes around perimeter, one leading to home box (safe)
• animal navigates to hole signalled by distal visual cuese
• measure latency (time taken) and path length (distance travelled)
• more accuracy required than in radial arm maze as more options
• need controls for animal own scent marking

Question 21

Morris water maze

Answer 21

• single escape platform located in pool of opaque water
• must accurately navigate (heading direction) by swimming to escape platform signalled by distal room cues
• measure latency and path length
• probe trial procedure with no platform as recall/accuracy test
• animal swim to platform to escape tepid water
• no controls needed as it is in water

Question 22

Translational value: human watermaze