Quantifying Spatial Memory In Male

Western Fence Lizards, Sceloporus occidentalis

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Main Question: What is the physical evidence of spatial memory in the brain of male
S. Occidentalis?

Why Important?
Powerful tool for comparative study of animal cognition and behavior
Greater understanding of cognitive mapping in squamates

Why S. occidentalis?
Spatial memory demonstrated in some squamate reptiles (U.
stansburiana and E. guttata guttata)
Confounding factors in S. occidentalis (e.g. inadequate motivators,
inconsistent tasks and housing conditions)

Why males?
More consistent behaviors related to spatial navigation (territory/home
range size)

How to quantify spatial memory in S. occidentalis?

Subject S. occidentalis to spatial task and identify neurogenesis in
areas of brain correlated with memory and navigation

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Hypothesis: Squamate reptiles exhibit increased neuronal proliferation in the olfactory
bulb, medial, dorsal, and lateral cortex, anterior dorsal ventricular ridge, nucleus
sphericus, septum, striatum, and cerebellum in response to solving spatial tasks

Prediction: Male S. occidentalis will exhibit increased neuronal proliferation in the OB,
MC, DC, LC, aDVR, NS, septum, striatum, and cerebellum in response to solving a
spatial task

Objectives:
Develop reliable spatial task for squamate use
Determine magnitude of spatial memory exhibited by male S. occidentalis
Measure physical response of S. occidentalis brain to solving spatial task
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Experimental Procedure:

25 male S. occidentalis lizards

Hatched, raised, and housed in identical lab conditions
Acclimated to heat range of 24C to 36C
Spatial Task
Barnes Maze with spatial cues

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Brain Preparation:
~470 34m slices
Label new and proliferating neurons
Primary antibody: NeuN
Secondary antibody: Anti-Mouse
Stain: Chromagen

Brain Analysis
Indication of spatial memory
More neurogenesis in regions of interest
Greater volume in regions of interest

Quantifying spatial memory in S. occidentalis

Magnitude of spatial memory exhibited by S. occidentalis compared to
neurogenesis in regions of interest for physiological measure of spatial memory

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Timeline: