Experimental Summary December 1, 2008

Intro: Much research has been conducted on rats and mazes concerning scale learning, cognitive mapping and orientation (Morris, 1981; Morris, Garrud, Rawlins & O’Keefe, 1982; O’Keefe & Nadel, 1978; Olton 1979; Packard & McGraugh, 1996).  Our study concerns the orientation learning aspect of navigation in rats.  Work has been done to determine that rats utilize [...]

Phase 4 November 24, 2008

We have begun the final phase of our experiment (phase 4).  Our experiment consists of the flat maze, the first incline and the final incline.  The first slope of the incline we used for each rat was .05715 with a highest point of 5.715cm.  Phase 4 consists of inclining the maze even further.  The slope of Phase 4 = [...]

Phase 3 Update November 20, 2008

Phase 3 is complete!  All the rats are having an error rate less than 3 errors per 10 trials.  We were only concerned with the introduction of Jenny which is why we have extended our phase 3 until now.  However, her error rate is currently consistant with our guidelines.  We will begin Phase 4 (which is the incline [...]

Phase 3 November 18, 2008

After we completed Phase 2 on November 14, we began Phase 3.  Basically, Phase 3 is habituation to the External Stimuli Reducer Maze Top (i.e. it’s phase 2 with poster board on top).  So, each rat is staying in their incline for phase 2 (Mrs. Brisby is 38* inclined, Dodger is flat, Eleanore is 38* [...]

Continuing Phase 2 November 13, 2008

To further describe the progress of phase 2, here are lines showing data from both phase 1 and 2 for Eleanore and Dinner laid on the same chart to show the differences: phase charts Here is an updated version of Mrs. Brisby’s and Dodger’s Progress of Phase 2 compared to Phase 1: brizndodgecomparedupdate Also, here [...]

Beginning Phase 2 November 11, 2008

Phase 2 has begun.  In this stage we switched the degree of incline of the maze for each rat.  For example, Dinner was running the maze on an incline during phase 1 and now is running the maze while it is flat on the floor.  The following data represents no change in error rate for [...]

Phase 1 Complete November 5, 2008

Mrs. Brisby/Dodger: Phase 1 of our Spatial/Motor Memory Maze Experiment is finally completed.  Although, most of our rats consistently progressed through phase one; it was not all smooth sailing. The progress of Mrs. Brisby has stabilized to a consistent average of 1 error per 10 trials.  Mrs. Brisby has remained stable since October 27, 2008. Dodger on [...]

Experiment progress October 30, 2008

While running the experiment we have come across some problems: Dinner and Eleanore: Initially both Dinner and Eleanore, the two rats I have been running through the maze, spent most of the trial times going back and forth through the maze but not entering the “finish” box.  In order to help motivate the rats (as [...]

Spatial Memory and the Altered Incline of a Maze October 22, 2008

This study is based on research demonstrating that muscle skills are learned (Cohen & Nicolelis, 2004; Kargo & Nitz, 2003; Kargo & Nitz, 2004; Kleim et al., 2004;  Wolpaw & Chen, 2006). Spatial memory (as described by Olton, 1979) involves these learned muscle skills, as certain physical action are required for completion of the maze.  [...]

Experiment Begins! October 22, 2008

So after I built the multiple T-maze over the weekend (see pictures below!) - we decided to begin our experiment on Tuesday. After discussing what consists of a wrong turn (at least one paw in the wrong direction), how many rats our experiment will consist of (4 rats, 2 with flat version 1st, 2 with incline version first) and how large of [...]