Morris Water Maze Reversal Learning
Objective: Assessment of spatial learning and cognitive flexibility using Morris water maze with reversal of the spatial location of the hidden platform to evaluate reversal learning abilities across mouse strains
This is a Morris Water Maze Reversal Learning protocol using mouse as the model organism. The procedure involves 3 procedural steps, 3 equipment items. Extracted from a 2006 paper published in Behavioural Brain Research.
Model and subjects
mouse • Ten inbred strains: C57BL/6J, C57L/J, DBA/2J, FVB/NJ, C3H/HeJ, AKR/J, A/J, BALB/cByJ, BTBR T+tf/J, and 129S1/SvImJ • male • Not specified • Not specified • Not specified
Study window
Estimated timing pending
Core workflow
Morris water maze acquisition phase • Morris water maze reversal phase • Reversal probe trial
Primary readouts
- Quadrant preference during reversal probe trial
- Ability to reach criterion for reversal learning
- Performance on acquisition of Morris water maze task
- Resistance to change in routine on water maze
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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- Verify the animal model, intervention setup, and collection timepoints against the source paper.
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Protocol Steps
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Morris water maze acquisition phase
Mice are trained to locate a hidden platform in the water maze during the acquisition phase
Note: This phase establishes baseline spatial learning ability
View evidence from paper
“On the Morris water maze task, DBA/2J, AKR/J, BTBR T+tf/J, and 129S1/SvImJ failed to show significant quadrant preference during the reversal probe trial”
Morris water maze reversal phase
The spatial location of the hidden platform is reversed to assess cognitive flexibility and reversal learning ability
Note: Reversal learning measures the ability to adapt to changed environmental contingencies
View evidence from paper
“reversal of the spatial location of the reinforcer in T-maze and Morris water maze tasks”
Reversal probe trial
A probe trial is conducted during the reversal phase to assess quadrant preference and platform location memory
Note: Quadrant preference during reversal probe trial indicates successful reversal learning
View evidence from paper
“DBA/2J, AKR/J, BTBR T+tf/J, and 129S1/SvImJ failed to show significant quadrant preference during the reversal probe trial”