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United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service
   
A Test of Learning and Memory


A Test of Learning and Memory

Fed standard chow
This diagram of the top view of an early trial of a rat fed standard chow shows that the rat was confused in locating the platform.

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This diagram of the top view of a later trial of a rat fed standard chow shows that the rat improved little or not at all in learning how to locate the platform.

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Fed blueberry extract

This diagram of the top view of an early trial of a rat fed blueberry extract shows that the rat was confused in locating the platform.

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This diagram of the top view of a later trial of a rat fed blueberry extract shows that the rat learned quickly to locate the platform.

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To measure cognition in rats, ARS scientists used video imaging of a pool to track the route rats to find a submerged platform (the end point of their swim). These diagrams show the top views of the routes taken. In the trials, the rats fed the standard chow took longer to find the platform and showed little or no progress in learning. In the same water maze, rats fed the blueberry extract learned to locate the platform faster. 
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Last Modified: 05/24/2013