Novel Object Recognition

This test is used to assess memory for interactions with novel objects.  Mice and rats tend to spend more time interacting with a new object rather than one they have previously encountered.   The basic measure is the amount of time the subject spends with either a completely novel object or an object to which they have been introduced in a previous session.

Procedure

The subject is habituated to the test chamber (typically the open field chamber) and allowed to freely explore for a set time on two consecutive days. On the third day, two identical novel objects are placed in opposite corners of the enclosure, and the percentage of time the mouse spends in the quadrants with the new objects is compared to the time spent in the empty quadrants. In a fourth session, the time spent with the same object might be compared to time spent with a newer, more novel object.