Journal article
Temporal context-guided memory capabilities in rodents
Scientific reports, Vol.15(1), 18753
05/28/2025
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-95410-2
PMCID: PMC12119930
PMID: 40437061
Abstract
Environmental contexts serve as powerful cues for episodic memory, allowing humans to recall events tied to specific settings. While rats can learn context-specific associations and temporal order, their ability to manage multiple contexts and rapidly adapt to changes in context remains unclear. This study investigated whether rats could order objects across two distinct contexts. Eight Lister Hooded rats were trained in a dual-context maze, where each context contained a pair of objects. In each trial, rats entered the maze, selected an object, and then re-entered either the same or a different context to complete the trial in the correct temporal order. Six rats successfully learned object order within a single context, but only two reached criterion in the more complex two-context condition. Group error analyses revealed a partial reliance on a procedural learning strategy and a tendency to favour one context, where prior location influenced object selection in subsequent trials. While two rats successfully adapted to the two-context condition beyond these simple strategies, most struggled with context switching, exhibiting perseveration difficulties-a trait also observed in some humans. These findings highlight the evolutionary foundations of context-guided memory and reveal remarkable individual variability in the ability to flexibly navigate multiple contexts.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Temporal context-guided memory capabilities in rodents
- Creators
- Benjamin J A Slater - Newcastle UniversityChristopher I Petkov - University of IowaAlexander Easton - Durham University
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Scientific reports, Vol.15(1), 18753
- DOI
- 10.1038/s41598-025-95410-2
- PMID
- 40437061
- PMCID
- PMC12119930
- NLM abbreviation
- Sci Rep
- ISSN
- 2045-2322
- eISSN
- 2045-2322
- Publisher
- NATURE PORTFOLIO
- Grant note
- BBSRC, Newcastle University and Durham University: Medical Research Council (MRC 2576332) U.S. National Science Foundation: SBE-2342847 National Institutes of Health: 1U01NS137991
This work was supported by the BBSRC, Newcastle University and Durham University. During this work C.P. was financially supported by the U.K. Medical Research Council (MRC 2576332), U.S. National Science Foundation (SBE-2342847), and National Institutes of Health (1U01NS137991).
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 05/28/2025
- Academic Unit
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Neurosurgery; Otolaryngology
- Record Identifier
- 9984825524102771
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