Learning of the MWM task is only modestly affected by age.

<p>C57BL/6J male mice with 1.5, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of age were tested in the MWM for their ability to learn and recall the location of a hidden platform. (A) Time required to find the hidden platform (i.e., escape latency) in both days 1 and 3 of the MWM training. For all age groups, escape latency on day 3 of training was significantly reduced when compared with escape latency on day 1, indicating that all mice were able to learn the task. (B) When the average time required to locate the hidden platform on day 3 was subtracted from that of day 1, a significant effect of ageing on the ability to learn the MWM task was observed, with older animals taking longer to learn the location of the hidden platform. (<b>C</b>) Distance traveled to find the hidden platform (i.e., path length) in both days 1 and 3 of the MWM training. For all age groups, path length on day 3 of training was significantly reduced when compared with the respective path length on day 1, further indicating that all mice were able to learn the task. However, on day 3 of training, 1.5-month old mice swam significantly less than their oldest counterparts. Data are presented as means ± SEM. ** <i>p</i> < 0.01, when comparing day 1 and day 3 of training for each age group; ^#<i>p</i> < 0.05, when comparing the distance traveled on day 3 of training between 1.5- and 9-month old mice; ^##<i>p</i> < 0.01, when comparing the distance traveled on day 3 of training between 1.5- and 12-month old mice; see text for additional statistical details.