Spatial memory and aging: Performance on a human analog of the Morris water maze

Rodent studies demonstrate parallel age-related changes in spatial memory a nd the hippocampal formation. Converging cognitive, neuropsychological, and neurobiological evidence suggests similar changes in humans, although thes e correlates have not been studied in the same individuals. The purpose of the current project was to develop and validate a human analog of a rodent spatial memory task for future use in correlative studies of spatial memory and brain structure and function. Younger and older healthy adults studied the location of a target relative to distal cues in a large tent-like encl osure. Group performances were similar for the practice trial, which could be solved verbally, suggesting similar abilities to remember the configurat ion of multiple stimuli in a large space. However, on subsequent trials, wh ich depended more upon spatial memory, older adults were impaired relative to their younger counterparts.