title: Assessing Cognition in Mice.
abstract: Genetically modified mouse models have proven useful to study learning and memory processes and the neurocircuitry and molecular mechanisms involved, as well as to develop therapies for diseases involving cognitive impairment. A variety of tests have been developed to measure cognition in mice, and here we present those established and regularly used in the German Mouse Clinic. The test paradigms have been carefully chosen according to reliability of results and disease relevance of the cognitive functions assessed. Further criteria were time efficiency and ease of application. All tests assess slightly different but also overlapping or interacting aspects of learning and memory so that they can be used to complement each other in a comprehensive assessment of cognitive function. The five protocols described are for spontaneous alternation in the Y-maze, social discrimination, object recognition, automated assessment of learning and memory using the IntelliCage, and olfactory discrimination learning.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Munich, Germany.|German Mouse Clinic, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Sabine M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hölter
authors.affiliation: Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Munich, Germany.|German Mouse Clinic, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Lillian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Garrett
authors.affiliation: Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Munich, Germany.|German Mouse Clinic, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Einicke
authors.affiliation: Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Munich, Germany.|German Mouse Clinic, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sperling
authors.affiliation: Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dirscherl
authors.affiliation: Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Munich, Germany.|German Mouse Clinic, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Annemarie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zimprich
authors.affiliation: German Mouse Clinic, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany.|Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.affiliation: German Mouse Clinic, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany.|Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gailus-Durner
authors.affiliation: German Mouse Clinic, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany.|Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Munich, Germany.|Technical University of Munich, Department of Experimental Genetics, Munich, Germany.|German Center for Diabetes Research, Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hrabě de Angelis
authors.affiliation: Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Munich, Germany.|Technical University of Munich, Department of Developmental Genetics, Munich, Germany.|German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Munich, Germany.|Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wurst
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice
keywords: IntelliCage; Y-maze; object recognition; olfactory discrimination learning; social discrimination