Spatial memory deficit in senescent rats.

Abstract
The spatial memory of senescent (29 mo.) and middle-aged (14 mo.) Long Evans rats was investigated using 3 tasks. In the 1st, rats were required to move from the brightly lit surface of a circular platform into a dark tunnel under 1 of 18 holes lining its circumference. The 2nd task dissociated the strategy of preference (i.e., cue, response place) of these rats in a 2 choice (T-maze) discrimination problem. The 3rd task involved memory for specific places in the environment, with the use of water reward to induce running on a radial 8-arm maze. The senescent rates exhibited poorer memory for rewarded places and evidence is presented that this may be a result of using less efficient performance strategies because of a deficit in spatial memory.

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