The 3D Vertical Maze: A new model system for studying the interactions between social and spatial cognition.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Evolutionary biology and neuroscience evidence supports the theory that spatial cognition and social cognition share neural mechanisms. Although rodent models are widely used to study either spatial or social cognition, few studies have explored the interactions between these domains, possibly because measures across tasks differ.

New method

We introduce the automated 3-dimensional Vertical Maze (VM), a new model system designed to measure multiple aspects of spatial and social behavior and cognition. The VM features a standard 3-chamber maze positioned above three-level columns allowing for presentation of conspecifics as either demonstrators or discriminative stimuli at different spatial distances and different social familiarity levels. The presentation of demo

SUBMITTER: Wise TB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12278837 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature