LaDage Lara D, Cobb Irvin Tracie E, Gould Victoria A
Division of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Penn State Altoona;
Division of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Penn State Altoona.
J Vis Exp. 2017 Jan 3(119):55103. doi: 10.3791/55103.
Clinical research has leveraged a variety of paradigms to assess cognitive decline, commonly targeting spatial learning and memory abilities. However, interest in the cognitive processes of nonmodel species, typically within an ecological context, has also become an emerging field of study. In particular, interest in the cognitive processes in reptiles is growing although experimental studies on reptilian cognition are sparse. The few reptilian studies that have experimentally tested for spatial learning and memory have used rodent paradigms modified for use in reptiles. However, ecologically important aspects of the physiology and behavior of this taxonomic group must be taken into account when testing for spatially based cognition. Here, we describe modifications of the dry land Barnes maze and associated testing protocol that can improve performance when probing for spatial learning and memory ability in small squamate reptiles. The described paradigm and procedures were successfully used with male side-blotched lizards (Uta stansburiana), demonstrating that spatial learning and memory can be assessed in this taxonomic group with an ecologically relevant apparatus and protocol.
临床研究利用了多种范式来评估认知衰退，通常针对空间学习和记忆能力。然而，对非模式物种认知过程的研究兴趣，通常是在生态背景下，也已成为一个新兴的研究领域。特别是，尽管关于爬行动物认知的实验研究很少，但对爬行动物认知过程的兴趣正在增加。少数对爬行动物进行空间学习和记忆实验测试的研究，使用了为爬行动物修改的啮齿动物范式。然而，在测试基于空间的认知时，必须考虑到这一分类群体生理和行为的生态重要方面。在这里，我们描述了旱地巴恩斯迷宫的修改和相关测试方案，当探测小型有鳞爬行动物的空间学习和记忆能力时，可以提高测试性能。所描述的范式和程序已成功应用于雄性侧斑蜥蜴（Uta stansburiana），表明可以使用与生态相关的仪器和方案，在这一分类群体中评估空间学习和记忆。
