Context Memory Test
Objective: To assess context memory in rats by measuring exploratory preference for familiar objects in different contexts versus original contexts, and to compare performance between hippocampal-lesioned and sham-lesioned rats
This is a Context Memory Test protocol using rat as the model organism. The procedure involves 5 procedural steps, 1 equipment items. Extracted from a 2002 paper published in Learning & Memory.
Model and subjects
rat • Not specified • Not specified • Not specified • Not specified • Not specified
Study window
~5 minutes hands-on
Core workflow
Familiarization Phase • Retention Interval • Object Recognition Test
Primary readouts
- Exploratory preference for novel versus familiar objects (Object trials)
- Exploratory preference for objects in new versus familiar locations (Place trials)
- Exploratory preference for familiar objects in different versus original contexts (Context trials)
- Presence or absence of novelty preference across trial types
Key equipment and reagents
Use this page as an execution guide, then fall back to the source paper whenever you need exact exclusions, dosing details, or assay-specific caveats.
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Protocol Steps
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Familiarization Phase
Rats are exposed to objects in their original context to establish baseline familiarity
Note: This phase precedes the retention interval
View evidence from paper
“with a 5-min retention interval between the familiarization and test phases”
Retention Interval
Time period between familiarization and test phases
Note: Standard retention interval used across all trial types
View evidence from paper
“with a 5-min retention interval between the familiarization and test phases”
Object Recognition Test
Rats are tested on their exploratory preference for novel objects versus familiar objects as an index of object recognition
Note: One of three trial types in the novelty-preference paradigm
View evidence from paper
“Rats have a natural tendency to spend more time exploring novel objects than familiar objects, and this preference can be used as an index of object recognition”
Place Memory Test
Rats are tested on their exploratory preference for objects in locations where they have not previously encountered objects
Note: One of three trial types in the novelty-preference paradigm; serves as index of place memory
View evidence from paper
“Rats also show an exploratory preference for objects in locations where they have not previously encountered objects (an index of place memory)”
Context Memory Test
Rats are tested on their exploratory preference for familiar objects in contexts different from those in which the objects were originally encountered
Note: One of three trial types in the novelty-preference paradigm; serves as index of context memory
View evidence from paper
“and for familiar objects in contexts different from those in which the objects were originally encountered (an index of context memory)”