Exploration times with objects during the sample phase in the spontaneous recognition of location (SLR) tasks show no differences between the groups. (A) Randomized design for the SLR task with square box: During the sample phase (panel above), objects were placed in corners A and B or C and D. During later testing, one object was displaced as indicated by orange arrows (panel below). (B) Example frame from video camera when a rat explored an object in corner D during the sample phase. (C) Object exploration time for each corner during the sample phase showed no bias for corner. (D) Example of sample phase for the square arena. One object location (light blue) is to remain constant, and one object location (dark blue) is to be displaced upon later testing. The objects were identical. (E,F) Object exploration times for the object locations to remain in constant position (familiar) versus the object locations to be displaced, during the first 3 min of the sample phase. Two-way ANOVAs showed no effect of object location F(1,26) = 0.04, n.s. and no Group × Location interaction F(2,26) = 0.68, n.s.), before the 3 h delay (E) or before the 24 h delay (F; two-way ANOVAs effect of object location F(1,26) = 0.06, n.s. and Group × Location interaction F(2,26) = 1.84, n.s.). (G) Sample phase for the circular arena. One object location is to remain constant (A, light blue), while the two other object locations (B, dark blue and C, blue) are to be displaced upon later testing. All the objects were identical. (H,I) Object exploring times for the three objects A, B, and C during the three first minutes of the sample phase in the circular arena. Two-way ANOVAs showed no effect of object location F(2,52) = 0.60, n.s. and no Group × Location interaction F(4,52) = 0.32, n.s.), before the 3 h delay (H) or before the 24 h delay (I; two-way ANOVAs effect of object location F(2,38) = 0.57, n.s. and Group × Location interaction F(4,38) = 1.05, n.s.).
