TY - JOUR
T1 - Short intertrial intervals impair water maze performance in old Fischer 344 rats
AU - Rick, John Th
AU - Murphy, M. Paul
AU - Ivy, Gwen O.
AU - Milgram, Norton W.
PY - 1996/7
Y1 - 1996/7
N2 - Male and female Fischer 344 rats (N = 55) aged approximately 18, 21, and 24 months were tested for spatial learning in the water maze with intertrial intervals of 1-4 min (Massed) or 23-33 min (Spaced). Animals tested in the Massed condition showed an age-related impairment on trials to criterion; rats aged 24 months performed more poorly than younger subjects. Spaced animals did not differ at any age nor did they differ from 18- or 21-month- old Massed subjects. The youngest rats in both groups were comparable to animals aged 7-8 months tested under Massed conditions. Tests on swim distance, swim speed, and escape latency produced similar results. Our data suggest that acquisition deficits in 24-month-old rats tested with long intertrial intervals are due at least in part to increased susceptibility to fatigue and/or thermal stress. Caution should be used, therefore, when interpreting age-related impairments in water maze performance.
AB - Male and female Fischer 344 rats (N = 55) aged approximately 18, 21, and 24 months were tested for spatial learning in the water maze with intertrial intervals of 1-4 min (Massed) or 23-33 min (Spaced). Animals tested in the Massed condition showed an age-related impairment on trials to criterion; rats aged 24 months performed more poorly than younger subjects. Spaced animals did not differ at any age nor did they differ from 18- or 21-month- old Massed subjects. The youngest rats in both groups were comparable to animals aged 7-8 months tested under Massed conditions. Tests on swim distance, swim speed, and escape latency produced similar results. Our data suggest that acquisition deficits in 24-month-old rats tested with long intertrial intervals are due at least in part to increased susceptibility to fatigue and/or thermal stress. Caution should be used, therefore, when interpreting age-related impairments in water maze performance.
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U2 - 10.1093/gerona/51A.4.B253
DO - 10.1093/gerona/51A.4.B253
M3 - Article
C2 - 8680989
AN - SCOPUS:0030058464
SN - 1079-5006
VL - 51
SP - B253-B260
JO - Journals of Gerontology - Series A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
JF - Journals of Gerontology - Series A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
IS - 4
ER -