Object recognition in rats and mice: A one-trial non-matching-to-sample learning task to study 'recognition memory'

Rick A. Bevins, Joyce Besheer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1023 Scopus citations

Abstract

Rats and mice have a tendency to interact more with a novel object than with a familiar object. This tendency has been used by behavioral pharmacologists and neuroscientists to study learning and memory. A popular protocol for such research is the object-recognition task. Animals are first placed in an apparatus and allowed to explore an object. After a prescribed interval, the animal is returned to the apparatus, which now contains the familiar object and a novel object. Object recognition is distinguished by more time spent interacting with the novel object. Although the exact processes that underlie this 'recognition memory' requires further elucidation, this method has been used to study mutant mice, aging deficits, early developmental influences, nootropic manipulations, teratological drug exposure and novelty seeking.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1306-1311
Number of pages6
JournalNature protocols
Volume1
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2006

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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