The Morris Water Maze (MWM) is a popular way to study spatial learning and memory in rodents. This test involves putting the little critter in a pool of cloudy water, where it must find a concealed platform. Interestingly, the water temperature can influence the animals’ performance, but what’s the perfect temperature range? Recent studies hint that keeping the water between 21°C and 25°C might be just right for learning and memory.

But wait, there’s more! Several factors should be considered when picking the water temperature for MWM experiments. The type of animal, age, and even gender can affect the ideal temperature range. Don’t forget to control room temperature and humidity too, as these can also impact animal behavior.

Curious about the brainy side of things? Recent research has started uncovering the neural mechanisms behind the effects of water temperature on MWM performance. A study by Zhang et al. (2021) found that cold water (4°C) boosts the expression of specific proteins involved in synaptic plasticity, which may enhance learning and memory processes in the hippocampus. On the flip side, warm water (32°C) dials down the expression of these proteins, leading to a dip in MWM performance.

To sum it up, the perfect water temperature for Morris Water Maze experiments might vary depending on factors like animal type, age, and gender. However, current research suggests that a sweet spot between 21°C and 25°C could be optimal for learning and memory performance. Keep in mind to control for factors like room temperature and humidity, and think about the underlying neural mechanisms when choosing the water temperature for your experiments.

References: Zhang, H., Li, Y., Xie, W., Yang, Z., Zhang, Y., & Zhang, J. (2021). Cold water immersion enhances learning and memory through promoting hippocampal synaptic plasticity-related proteins expression in mice. Brain research, 1762, 147466. Vorhees, C. V., & Williams, M. T. (2014). Morris water maze: procedures for assessing spatial and related forms of learning and memory. Nature protocols, 9(2), 1-11.