Object Location Task
Objective: Assess recognition memory for object locations and examine the role of medial prefrontal cortex and perirhinal cortex in distinct recognition memory processes
Protocol Steps
Surgical lesion placement
Male DA rats received bilateral lesions in the perirhinal cortex (PRH) or medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), or unilateral lesions placed in both cortices in either the same hemisphere (PRH-mPFC IPSI) or contralateral hemispheres (PRH-mPFC CONTRA). A fifth group underwent sham surgery.
Note: This is a disconnection procedure to test whether these regions form components of an integrated system for recognition memory
View evidence from paper
“Male DA rats received bilateral lesions in the PRH or mPFC or unilateral lesions placed in both cortices in either the same (PRH–mPFC IPSI) or contralateral (PRH–mPFC CONTRA) hemispheres. A fifth group underwent sham surgery (SHAM).”
Object-in-place task
Rats were tested on an object-in-place task to assess associational memory for objects and their locations
Note: PRH, mPFC, and PRH-mPFC CONTRA groups were significantly impaired in this task
View evidence from paper
“In the object-in-place and temporal order memory tasks, the PRH, mPFC, and PRH–mPFC CONTRA groups were significantly impaired.”
Temporal order memory task
Rats were tested on a temporal order memory task to assess recency discrimination
Note: PRH, mPFC, and PRH-mPFC CONTRA groups were significantly impaired in this task
View evidence from paper
“In the object-in-place and temporal order memory tasks, the PRH, mPFC, and PRH–mPFC CONTRA groups were significantly impaired.”
Novel object preference task
Rats were tested on a novel object preference task to assess discrimination of novel and familiar individual objects
Note: Performance was only impaired in the PRH group, not in mPFC or disconnection groups
View evidence from paper
“However, performance in the novel object preference task was only impaired in the PRH group.”
Object location task
Rats were tested on an object location task to assess recognition memory for object locations
Note: No group was impaired in the object location task
View evidence from paper
“No group was impaired in the object location task.”