Cognitive Evaluation Using Morris Water Maze in Neurotrauma

The Morris water maze (MWM) task is one of the most widely used and versatile tools in behavioral neuroscience for evaluating spatial learning and memory. With regard to detecting cognitive deficits following central nervous system (CNS) injuries, MWM has been commonly utilized in various animal models of neurotrauma, such as fluid percussion injury (FPI), cortical controlled impact (CCI) injury, weight-drop impact injury, and penetrating ballistic-like brain injury (PBBI). More importantly, it serves as a therapeutic index for assessing the efficacy of treatment interventions on cognitive performance following neurotrauma. Thus, it is critical to design an MWM testing paradigm that is sensitive yet discriminating for the purpose of evaluating potential therapeutic interventions. In this chapter, we discuss how multiple test manipulations, including the size of platform, numbers of trials per day, the frequency of retesting intervals, and the texture of platform surface, impact MWM’s ability to detect cognitive deficits using a rat model of PBBI.

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Disclaimers

The views of the authors do not purport or reflect the position of the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense (para 4-3, AR 360-5). The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest in this protocol. This research is funded by Combat Casualty Care Research Program.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA Ying Deng-Bryant Ph.D., Lai Yee Leung, Krista Caudle, Frank Tortella & Deborah Shear
  1. Ying Deng-Bryant Ph.D.