A Novel Universal Virtual Maze for the Evaluation of Spatial Performance-Related Behaviors

Joseph Yanai, Vlad Demartsev, Adi Pinkas

A Universal Virtual Maze for assessing spatial learning and memory is being presented. The maze is based conceptually on the Morris maze, but bypasses its limitations, which makes it suitable for both “wet” and “dry” situations, for animals of all sizes and free running animals, as well as for wild animals of all sizes in their natural habitats. The test can be applied in three dimensions and can test learning and memory among animals in flight or swimming/diving animals, in a laboratory setting or the wild. All that the virtual maze requires is a video camera and a computer with the appropriate tracking software, a rewarding device, and an alerting device. The efficacy of the maze was tested in mice and human which were tested in species-appropriate virtual mazes. Mice - showed a clear learning curve which was already statistically significant on the 5th testing day and the improvement was increased to 63% after 10 days (p<0.001). Human - The subjects easily reached a learning curve. The improvement during the 5 days was 64% (p<0.01). They still preformed the task even when the virtual target was moved to a different location. There are preliminary indications that the test could identify ADHD syndrome. Virtual maze offers a test similar to the Morris maze but it is simple and practically suitable for any situation, with no limitations.

https://doi.org/10.31871/IJNTR.2.4.16