Y-maze spontaneous alternation test

RJ Rong Jiang
XW Xue-Fei Wu
BW Bin Wang
RG Rong-Xiao Guan
LL Lang-Man Lv
AL Ai-Ping Li
LL Lei Lei
YM Ye Ma
NL Na Li
QL Qi-Fa Li
QM Quan-Hong Ma
JZ Jie Zhao
SL Shao Li
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Spontaneous alternation behavior in the Y-maze test, a behavioral test based on the animals’ natural curiosity for exploration, is considered to reflect the short-term spatial working memory [27, 28]. The apparatus for Y-maze testing is made of three opaque identical plastic arms (labeled as A, B, and C) with high walls at 120° angle from each other. The mouse was introduced in the center of the maze and allowed to explore the three arms freely for 8 min. Arm entry was defined as the entry of four limbs into one arm of the Y-maze. Entry into three different arms in succession (e.g., ABC, BCA, CBA, or CAB arms) was defined as one alternation. The percent alternation score was calculated by dividing the actual number of alternations by the total number of choices minus 2, expressed as a percentage as shown in the following equation:

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