Post-trial flicker stimulation interferes with spatial memory in the Morris water maze.
Rats (n = 20) trained under monocular viewing conditions in the working memory version of Morris water maze task received daily a single acquisition trial with a new location of the invisible escape platform followed after 15 min by a single retrieval trial. Escape latency decreased by 50% during retrieval. Flash stimulation (20 Hz, 0.6 J) during the entire 15-min delay disrupted retention, but this effect was not observed when the flashes started 3 or 5 min after acquisition. It is concluded that successful place learning requires a brief interference-free post-acquisition interval.
D000818:Animals; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011930:Reaction Time; D013037:Spatial Behavior; D013550:Swimming; D013997:Time Factors