Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY 13346, USA.
Anim Cogn. 2013 Jan;16(1):23-34. doi: 10.1007/s10071-012-0547-1. Epub 2012 Aug 14.
Previous studies have demonstrated that animals use multiple strategies to solve spatial tasks. We used a T-maze to examine spatial behavior in crayfish, using visual and tactile stimuli as place cues and a food-scented escape tank as reinforcement to leave the maze. In trials on a single day and across multiple days, crayfish learned to exit the maze with significantly reduced latency and with fewer turns. In addition, we examined place memory in 40-min periods with the maze closed and found that crayfish spent longer in the vicinity of a previously open exit compared to a closed exit. Probe tests were conducted using a forced-choice procedure to determine whether crayfish remembered the route out of the maze using primarily place cues or response learning. We found that approximately equal numbers of animals used each strategy, and individuals were able to switch from one strategy to the other on different test days. Males and females did not differ significantly in their performance in the place memory test, maze exit task, or probe tests. Both sexes displayed place memory for the exit location and reduced latency to exit during trials 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, and 1 week after initial training trials, suggesting that spatial memories in crayfish are relatively enduring.
先前的研究表明，动物会使用多种策略来解决空间任务。我们使用 T 型迷宫来研究螯虾的空间行为，使用视觉和触觉刺激作为位置线索，并用带有食物气味的逃生罐作为强化物，以促使螯虾离开迷宫。在单日和多日的试验中，螯虾学会了以显著降低的潜伏期和较少的转弯次数离开迷宫。此外，我们在迷宫关闭的情况下进行了 40 分钟的位置记忆测试，发现与关闭的出口相比，螯虾在先前打开的出口附近停留的时间更长。使用强制选择程序进行探测测试，以确定螯虾是否主要使用位置线索或反应学习来记住走出迷宫的路线。我们发现，大约相等数量的动物使用了这两种策略，而且个体在不同的测试日可以从一种策略切换到另一种策略。在位置记忆测试、迷宫出口任务或探测测试中，雄性和雌性的表现没有显著差异。在初始训练试验后的 24 小时、48 小时、72 小时和 1 周，两性都显示出对出口位置的空间记忆，并且潜伏期缩短，这表明螯虾的空间记忆相对持久。
