Water associated zero maze: a novel rat test for long term traumatic re-experiencing

Often, freezing and startle behaviors in the context of a previously experienced stress are taken as an indication of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-like symptoms in rats. However, PTSD is characterized by large individual variations of symptoms. In order to take into consideration the complex and long term distinctive variations in effects of trauma exposure additional behavioral measures are required. The current study used a novel behavioral test, the water associated zero maze (WAZM). This test was planned to enable a formation of an association between the context of the maze and an underwater trauma (UWT) or swim stress in order to examine the impact of exposure to the context which immediately…

• HF
  Hope for Depression Research Foundation

  Award: 10071009
• IS
  Israel Science Foundation

  Awards: 1128/16, 1403/07
• MR
  Medical Research and Materiel Command

  Award: 10071009