{"Equipment":"<p>\n\tY shaped arena with three arms of identical length at 120&deg; angles.</p>\n<p>\n\tCamera and computer with tracking software if using video tracking.</p>\n","Procedure":"<ol>\t<li>\t\tTransport animals to testing room at least 15 minutes prior to testing.</li>\t<li>\t\tEnsure lighting conditions are as desired and if using video tracking that the camera is working.</li>\t<li>\t\tRemove mouse from its cage and place in the start arm. Allow the mouse to explore the arena for 8 minutes.</li>\t<li>\t\tEither manually score the entries or use the automatic tracking while the mouse explores the arena for the duration of the test. Arm entry is defined differently depending on the scoring system.\t\t<ol style=\"list-style-type:lower-alpha;\">\t\t\t<li>\t\t\t\tManual: arm entry is scored when all four paws enter the new location.</li>\t\t\t<li>\t\t\t\tAutomated tracking: arm entry is scored when the centre of the mouse enters the new location.</li>\t\t</ol>\t</li>\t<li>\t\tRemove mouse from the arena and place back in home cage.</li>\t<li>\t\tClean area with consistent disinfectant (i.e. ethanol/clidox) before testing next mouse.</li></ol>","Purpose":"<p>\n\tThe Y-maze is used to assess spontaneous alternation performance as an index of active retrograde working memory in rodents.</p>\n","Experimental Design":"<div class=\"expandable\">\n\t<ul>\n\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t<strong>Minimum number of animals :</strong>&nbsp; 7M + 7F</li>\n\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t<strong>Age at test: </strong>Week 51 </li></ul>\n</div>\n<p>\n\t&nbsp;</p>\n","Notes":"Minimum of 5 arm entries are required for the ratios to be calculated to ensure the accuracy of the derived values."}