A novel behavioral apparatus for spontaneous exploration and operant conditioning of social information under spatial conditions in rats

Abstract

Rodent models are widely used to study both spatial and social cognition, but few studies have explored the interactions between spatial and social cognitive domains due to the lack of appropriate paradigms. Our study introduces the Vertical Maze (VM), a novel behavioral apparatus designed to measure multiple aspects of spatial and social cognition. The VM features a standard 3-chamber maze positioned above multilevel columns allowing for the presentation of conspecifics at varying spatial distances and familiarity levels. This setup enables conspecifics to serve as discriminative stimuli for both social and spatial spontaneous and goal-oriented assessments. The three-dimensional design of the VM allows rats to use multisensory cues to judge distance, direction, and social identity of conspecifics. Our results confirm that the VM is an effective tool for studying both spatial cognition and social cognition, facilitating the development of novel automated tasks in these areas. This versatile apparatus provides a much-needed system for directly comparing spatial and social behaviors in a single environment.