Radial maze is an experimental apparatus used to study the spatial learning and memory of animals such as rodents. It consists of a circular platform with several arms radiating from a central point. The arms are usually marked with a distinctive visual cue, and the animal is placed in the center and allowed to explore the maze. The animal’s behavior is then monitored and recorded to assess its ability to remember the spatial cues and find its way back to the starting point.
The radial maze was first developed in the 1950s by psychologists Kenneth and Marian Breland. The Brelands used the maze to study the behavior of rats and other animals, and their findings helped form the basis of modern theories of animal behavior and learning. Since then, the radial maze has been used in a variety of experiments to study spatial learning and memory in animals.
In one study, for example, researchers used the radial maze to study the effects of age on spatial memory in rats. The researchers found that older rats took longer to complete the maze and made more errors than younger rats, suggesting that age affects spatial memory in rats (Hannan et al., 2018).
Other studies have used the radial maze to study the effects of stress on spatial memory. One study found that rats exposed to an acute stressor performed worse on the radial maze than control rats (Jacobs et al., 2016). These findings suggest that acute stress can impair spatial memory in rats.
In addition to studying spatial memory, the radial maze has also been used to study other forms of cognition, such as working memory and attention. For example, one study found that rats performed better on the radial maze when they were given a reward for completing each arm (Gottlieb et al., 2014). This suggests that rewarding behavior can improve performance on the radial maze.
Overall, the radial maze is a versatile and powerful tool for studying spatial learning and memory in animals. By observing the behavior of animals in the maze, researchers can gain insight into the mechanisms of animal cognition and behavior.
References
Gottlieb, A. B., Lebovitz, E., & Kohn, A. F. (2014). Performance on the radial arm maze as a function of reward. Learning & Behaviour, 42(4), 259-271.
Hannan, S. E., Pierce, J. L., Hodge, C. J., & Bales, K. L. (2018). Age-related decline in spatial memory performance in rats on the radial arm maze. Neurobiology of Aging, 62, 107-113.
Jacobs, B. L., Runyan, J. L., & Johnson, A. K. (2016). Effects of acute stress on working and reference memory in the radial arm maze. Physiology & Behavior, 157, 1-7.