Abstract
COGITAT is an automated hole board system that, following minimal experimental interventions, makes it possible to measure a variety of parameters associated with learning, memory, relearning, cognition, and cognitive shifts, but also changes in exploratory and sensorimotor performance in rodent models. The individual parameters—that is, overall exploratory activity, number of visits (deep in the hole) into or inspections of (at the upper surface) holes, number of baited, unbaited, or previously baited holes visited or inspected, reinspections of or revisits into any holes, number of pellets eaten, time to find pellets, serial order collection (without intermediate inspections or visits), and reference and working memory errors (visits, inspections, or total)—are obtained simultaneously, and the results are immediately available after the end of each experiment. The system appears to be well suited to neurophysiological, neuropharmacological, and gene-technological investigations in rodent models.
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This study was supported by the Bundesministerium für Bildung, Wissenschaft, Forschung und Technologie, BMBF-Schwerpunkt “Morbus Parkinson und andere Basalganglienerkrankungen,” Grant 01 KL 9403/0. The skillful technical assistance of Heike Wetzstein is gratefully acknowledged. We thank two anonymous reviewers for their helpful criticism of a preliminary version of this manuscript.
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Heim, C., Pardowitz, I., Sieklucka, M. et al. The analysis system COGITAT for the study of cognitive deficiencies in rodents. Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers 32, 140–156 (2000). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03200796
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03200796