Spatial Memory

1. Spatial Memory

2. Memory is the the retention of learned information or knowledge. • Most psychologists agree that there appear to be different types of memory. For example, memory for facts and events are called declarative memories. Memory for motor skills or behavior are called procedural memory.

3. Declarative memories can be further distinguished • Short-term memory - a temporary memory that is limited in capacity and requires continual rehearsal. A similar term is working memory. • Long-term memory - a more permanent memory with much greater capacity than short-term memory and does not require rehearsal. A similar term is reference memory.

4. Spatial memories are declarative memories that animals use to navigate in their local environment. • Short-term ( working ) memory; and/or • Long-term (reference) memory. Spatial memory may involve:

5. David Olton developed the radial arm maze to study spatial memory in rodents. The maze consists of 8 arms radiating from a central octagonal platform. The demonstration that follows simulates an experienced rat in a radial arm maze. Observe the rat’s behavior and then answer the following questions:

6. Questions(Will be repeated after the demonstration) • Describe the performance of the rat in the maze. Is the animal’s performance efficient or could it have performed more efficiently? • What type of memory is the rat using? What precisely is the rat remembering? • Is there an alternative explanation for the rat’s performance that does not require a memory explanation? Design a radial arm maze experiment that can potentially eliminate this alternative explanation. • Describe an experimental procedure that demonstrates the rat’s use of both working and reference memory.

7. 34” 86” 86” Radial Arm Maze All 8 arms are bated with food... … and the rat is placed in the center area. The experimenter stands here Press spacebar to begin test session.

8. Radial Arm Maze

9. Radial Arm Maze

10. Radial Arm Maze

11. Radial Arm Maze

12. Radial Arm Maze

13. Radial Arm Maze

14. Radial Arm Maze

15. Radial Arm Maze

16. Radial Arm Maze

17. Questions • Describe the performance of the rat in the maze. Is the animal’s performance efficient or could it have performed more efficiently? • What type of memory is the rat using? What precisely is the rat remembering? • Is there an alternative explanation for the rat’s performance that does not require a memory explanation? Design a radial arm maze experiment that can potentially eliminate this alternative explanation. • Describe an experimental procedure that demonstrates the rat’s use of BOTH working and reference memory.