RESISTANCE OF EXPERIENTIALLY-INDUCED CHANGES IN MURINE PLUS-MAZE BEHAVIOR TO ALTERED RETEST CONDITIONS

Prior exposure to the elevated plus-maze results in profound behaviour al alterations in rats and mice, with 24 h retest profiles indicative of fear sensitization. The present study was designed to examine the i nfluence of retest cues on this phenomenon in male DBA/2 mice. Results confirmed the potent influence of prior maze experience on subsequent behavioural patterns, and showed that this was not affected by manipu lations of extra-maze cues (90 degrees re-orientation of the maze or u se of a different laboratory) on Trial 2. Data are discussed in relati on to experientially-induced shifts in behavioural strategy and the ap parent involvement of simple proximal cues (probably thigmotactic) in this enduring and adaptive form of spatial learning. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.