Water Maze Protocol

General Overview
The water maze is a task used to train animals to locate a hidden platform within a pool of opaque water at 24 using spatial cues around the pool as a guide. The tank is 1.5 m in diameter and is surrounded by curtains. Each curtain contains contrasting shapes that serve as spatial cues. Mice are trained on a total of 32 training trials over 4 days. Trials are given in blocks of 4 per session, and 2 sessions are given each day separated by approximately 4 hours. Free swims (trials in which the platform is removed) lasting 30 seconds are given at the beginning of every training day, so that there is a total of 1 habituation trial, and 3 probe trials (probe trial after ever 8 training trials). On Day 5 all mice will receive 6 cued or visible platform trials. These trials serve as a sensorimotor index for each mouse. These trials are given in blocks of 3 per session, and 2 sessions are given separated by 4 hours.

Days 1-4 will consist of 1 free swim and 8 training trials to a hidden platform. Start location will vary from trial to trial but platform will remain in a fixed location.

Procedure

Protocol for session A days 1, 2, 3 & 4

Trial 1: 30s free swim without the platform.
On day 1 at end of 30s remove mouse to heated cage. On Days 2, 3, & 4 at the end of 30s return platform to position and allow mouse to sit on the platform for 10 sec, then remove mouse to heated cage.

Trials 2-5: 60s (max) swim with the platform.
When the mouse reaches the platform start timer and allow subject to sit there for 10s. Then remove subject to heated cage for 60 seconds. Start next trial. Return to home cage after 4 trials

If mouse does not find platform after 60s guide him to it by putting your finger on top of the platform. Allow mouse to sit there for 10 seconds. Then place him in the heated cage for 60 seconds. Then start the next trial. Return to home cage after 4 trials

Protocol for session B days 1,2,3, & 4

Trials 1-4: 60s (max) swim with the platform.
When the mouse reaches the platform start timer and allow subject to sit there for 10s. Then remove subject to heated cage for 60 seconds. Start next trial. Return to home cage after 4 trials

If mouse does not find platform after 60s guide him to it by putting your finger on top of the platform. Allow mouse to sit there for 10 seconds. Then place him in the heated cage for 60 seconds. Then start the next trial. Return to home cage after 4 trials

Day 5 is cue training and the platform will be visible above the water. On this day start position and platform location varies on each trial. Subjects will receive 3 cue trials per session.

Protocol for session A Day 5

Trial 1: 30s free swim without the platform.
At end of 30s remove mouse to heated cage

Trials 2-4: 60s (max) swim with the visible platform.
When the mouse reaches the platform start timer and allow subject to sit there for 10s. Then remove subject to heated cage for 60 seconds. Start next trial. Return to home cage after 3 trials

If mouse does not find platform after 60s guide him to it by putting your finger on top of the platform. Allow mouse to sit there for 10 seconds. Then place him in the heated cage for 60 seconds. Then start the next trial. Return to home cage after 4 trials

Protocol for session B days Day 5

Trials 1-3: 60s (max) swim with the visible platform.
When the mouse reaches the platform start timer and allow subject to sit there for 10s. Then remove subject to heated cage for 60 seconds. Start next trial. Return to home cage after 4 trials

If mouse does not find platform after 60s guide him to it by putting your finger on top of the platform. Allow mouse to sit there for 10 seconds. Then place him in the heated cage for 60 seconds. Then start the next trial. Return to home cage after 3 trials