title: The water maze paradigm in experimental studies of chronic cognitive disorders: Theory, protocols, analysis, and inference.
abstract: An instrumental step in assessing the validity of animal models of chronic cognitive disorders is to document disease-related deficits in learning/memory capacity. The water maze (WM) is a popular paradigm because of its low cost, relatively simple protocol and short procedure time. Despite being broadly accepted as a spatial learning task, inference of generalized, bona fide "cognitive" dysfunction can be challenging because task accomplishment is also reliant on non-cognitive processes. We review theoretical background, testing procedures, confounding factors, as well as approaches to data analysis and interpretation. We also describe an extended protocol that has proven useful in detecting early performance deficits in murine models of neuropsychiatric lupus and Alzheimer's disease. Lastly, we highlight the need for standardization of inferential criteria on "cognitive" dysfunction in experimental rodents and exclusion of preparations of a limited scientific merit. A deeper appreciation for the multifactorial nature of performance in WM may also help to reveal other deficits that herald the onset of neurodegenerative brain disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, McMaster University, Psychology Building Rm. 303, 1280 Main St., West Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada.
authors.forename: Minesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kapadia
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, McMaster University, Psychology Building Rm. 303, 1280 Main St., West Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada.
authors.forename: Josie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, McMaster University, Psychology Building Rm. 303, 1280 Main St., West Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada. Electronic address: sakic@mcmaster.ca.
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sakic
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018782:Maze Learning; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D014867:Water
keywords: Cognitive neuroscience; Disease models; Multivariate analysis; Spatial learning and memory; Video tracking; Water maze