Methods (part 2) Flashcards
- Learn about different types/subdivisions of memory - Learn about the brain regions involved in different types of memory - Discover some of the classic and newer rodent laboratory tests of learning and memory and how they work - Consider the translational value of laboratory animal learning and memory tests and how they relate to human behaviors and clinical diagnostics
How can we measure the traits of Autism Spectrum Disorders, Fragile X, and Down’s Syndrome
contextual fear conditioning
How can we measure the traits of Stroke
Radial arm maze
How can we measure the trait of Hypoxaemia during birth
Branes maze
How can we measure traits of Depression
Morris watermaze
How can we measure traits of T2DM
Spontaneous alteration (T-maze)
How can we measure the traits of Post-anaesthetic cognitive impairment
paired associate learning
How can we measure the traits of various dementias
spontaneous novelty detection/recognition memory
Working memory
- keeping something in mind
- active rehersal
- can be tested with digit span test -> once distracted, they might forget!
- very short term or temporary
What different subtypes can long term memory be categorised into
- procedural memories
- declarative memory
What are procedural memories
- associated with actions and motor activities (e.g. riding a bike)
- habitual
- hard to describe verbally
What is declarative memory
- factual
- easy to describe verbally
- further divided into semantic and episodic memory
What is the difference between episodic and semantic memories
- 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
How can we study memory types?
- human studies
- animals cannot communicate enough
- more of a psychological categorisation
What are the three phases of learning and memory
- encoding: inital learning
- storage: maintaining memories over time
- retrieval: test and recall
What areas of the brain are associated with procedual memory
striatum and cerebellum
What areas of the brain are associated with declarative memory
hippocampus and prefrontal cortex
Deficits in procedural and declarative memory
- procedural deficits are rare (some in PD/HD)
- typically dementia is involved with declarative memory
Difference between the translational and naturalistic approach
- translational: training an animal to mimic an effect
- naturalistic: relies on intrinsic skills or preferences
Radial arm maze
- 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
Barnes maze
- 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
Morris water maze
- 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
Translational value: human watermaze
