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This T maze was primarily used to study the foraging and route learning behaviors of Lasius niger workers on a doubly bifurcating trail with four endpoints. It is available in two sizes: short and long, replicating the original Czaczkes study or for novel applications. Customization options, including various colors and sizes, are available upon request.
The Multiple T-maze is designed for conducting spatial learning and memory studies in rodents. This apparatus consists of several T-mazes joined longitudinally, creating a complex decision-making field for the subjects. It evaluates the subjects’ decision-making and memory as they navigate through the mazes and associated paths in search of food.
In humans, the hippocampus is crucial for decision making and episodic memory. Damage to this area can significantly affect declarative memory, imagination, and decision-making abilities. Declarative memory, characterized by short temporal specificity, enables tasks like route planning to be executed quickly. The Multiple T-maze simulates an environment where subjects utilize their declarative memory to follow specific routes in pursuit of food. This setup requires subjects to apply their learned information in decision-making tasks within a controlled environment and timeframe. Additionally, the Multiple T-maze can be used to observe neural function in the hippocampus during sequential navigation tasks.
The Multiple T-maze features four T-mazes surrounded by a return rail, creating a lap-based task. The return rail includes feeders on both sides to store food rewards, serving as stimuli for the subjects. Other advanced T-mazes for studying learning and memory in rodents include the Two Problem T Maze, Automated T Maze, and Virtual T Maze.
The Multiple T-maze measures 165 x 165 cm overall. It includes four T-mazes arranged longitudinally to create a turn sequence. Two return rails are positioned on either side of the T-maze stack. The horizontal arms of the first T-maze connect to the return rail at the top (north end), while the longitudinal arm of the fourth T-maze connects to the return rail at the bottom (south end). Each track is 10 cm wide. Two feeders are installed on each return rail to hold the food rewards.
Thoroughly clean the apparatus before and after each trial to prevent any residual stimuli from affecting the subjects’ behavior. External tracking and recording systems, such as Noldus Ethovision XT, can be used with the Multiple T-Maze to observe and analyze rodent behavior.
The Multiple T-Maze task can be used without pretraining the subjects, allowing researchers to observe their foraging behavior in a novel environment. Conduct appropriate habituation sessions based on the specific requirements of your investigation prior to testing.
Introduce the subject to the multiple T maze from the south end of the maze. Place food pellets in both feeders present besides the return rail either on the right or the left side of the Multiple T maze. Allow the subject to run through the maze for a 40 min session each day. Change the position of the food pellets to the opposite side after each session.
Johnson and Redish (2007) investigated nonlocal representations during navigation in a Multiple T maze task. They recorded neural ensembles in the CA3 hippocampal region of Fisher Brown rats. The subjects were trained on the Multiple T Maze and then implanted with a 14-tetrode microdrive in the CA3 hippocampal region. Following the surgical procedure, the rats were introduced to the Multiple T maze to observe their navigation sequences at critical choice points.
The study found that neural ensembles in the CA3 region exhibited transient activity at decision points. Nonlocal representations and extra-field firing were observed at high-cost choice points and during error corrections. Neural ensemble location reconstruction was found to sweep ahead of the animal. Local field potentials showed strong theta and gamma frequencies, but no sharp waves. Prominent neural cell firing activity in the CA3 region was observed at three crucial points: high-cost choice points, error correction points, and reorientation points from the current position.
The following parameters can be observed in a Multiple T maze:
The Multiple T maze provides a complex, multi-choice environment to evaluate both reference memory and working memory in rodents. Unlike the conventional T-maze, the Multiple T-maze offers a more ethologically relevant setup due to its T-turn sequence. The return rails allow for uninterrupted performance, minimizing the need to handle the subjects. The maze can be easily modified for various investigations by adding or removing T-mazes or incorporating guillotine doors to introduce task delays. Training in the Multiple T-maze is efficient, and the results are both rapid and reproducible. This apparatus can also be effectively used for other tasks such as foraging, associative learning, and discrimination tasks, making it a versatile tool for studying different aspects of learning and memory.
Operating the Multiple T maze requires a specific skill set due to its complexity. Maintaining the subjects’ exploratory drive is crucial for obtaining accurate results. Performance in the task is influenced by the subjects’ training; those without pretraining exhibit different behaviors compared to habituated subjects. Overtraining or mishandling can induce stress or anxiety, significantly affecting the subjects’ behavior. Factors such as interfering olfactory cues, locomotion biases based on strain, age, and gender are also important considerations. Residual cues left in the maze can impact subject behavior, underscoring the importance of thorough apparatus cleaning.
Johnson, A., & Redish, D. (2007). Neural Ensembles in CA3 Transiently Encode Paths Forward of the Animal at a Decision Point. The Journal of Neuroscience, 27(45), 12176–12189. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3761-07.2007
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