Object Recognition Test
Objective: To assess object recognition memory in rats by measuring their natural preference to explore novel objects compared to familiar objects, and to evaluate hippocampal involvement in object, place, and context memory
This is a Object Recognition 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 Phase
Primary readouts
- Time spent exploring novel versus familiar objects
- Novelty preference on Object trials
- Novelty preference on Place trials
- Novelty preference on Context trials
Key equipment and reagents
Verified items
0
Direct vendor links
0
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Protocol Steps
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Familiarization Phase
Rats are exposed to objects in a specific context to establish familiarity with those objects
Note: This phase establishes baseline familiarity before 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 for all trial types
View evidence from paper
“with a 5-min retention interval between the familiarization and test phases”
Object Recognition Test Phase
Rats are presented with one familiar object and one novel object and their exploration time is measured
Note: Tests object recognition memory through novelty preference
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 Phase
Rats are tested on exploratory preference for objects in locations where they have not previously encountered objects
Note: Measures spatial memory component
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 Phase
Rats are tested on their preference for familiar objects in contexts different from those in which the objects were originally encountered
Note: Measures contextual memory component
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)”