Use of TSD, CSS or CLOSE maze to measure spatial navigation, working memory, Reference memory, memory errors, locomotor activity and anxiety-like behavior in Rats

Abstract

The Open Field Maze was one of the utmost frequently used platforms for assessment of behavioral profile of model animals. Initially an Open-Field use was defined in Hall and Ballechey’s 1932 paper, “A study of the rat’s behavior in a field: a contribution to method in comparative psychology”. Open Field Test (OFT) was a modest apparatus used in evaluation of limited behavioral profile anxiety, exploration, and locomotion activity. TSD (time space determinant) maze, CSS or CLOSE maze was recently developed in our laboratory aimed to find the cells involved in earlier food seeking behavior in rats given food stimulus in short and long pathway. However, it demonstrates relatively optimal test that provide a various information of behavior ranging from motor activity, anxiety, emotionality, spatial navigation, cognition, memory and memory errors to wide range of exploratory behaviors of tested animal evaluated via TSD maze equipped with video tracking software. A TSD maze comprised of a wall-enclosed area with adequate height prevents the rats to escape from maze. The TSD maze was recently used platform for evaluation of behavioral and neurophysiology of freely exploring animal especially rodents. This procedure will readily become useful to investigate the effect of different pharmacological compounds and toxicants on learning and memory as well as their anxiolytic and anxiogenic effects.