No clear changes in anxiety but decrease in ambulation

Psychological

Data Availability

Period at which this change occurs is not accurately known

Tissue

  • brain Changes ⇩

References

Referencing provided by LibAge

Description

There are no clear changes in anxiety with age but there is a decrease in ambulation as measured by the elevated-plus maze. The elevated plus maze is an experimental paradigm used to assess anxiety in rodents. The rodents are placed on a platform with four platform arms, two closed (walled) and two open (unwalled). Rodents normally prefer the closed arms and anxiety increases aversion of the open arms. Greater time spent in the open vs. closed arms, and number of entries onto the open vs. closed arms are thought to reflect reduced anxiety, and the total number of entries onto either platform is used as an index of ambulation (Hogg). With age Fahlstrom et al. found a decrease in ambulation and a significant decrease in the number of entries onto the closed arms. However, no significant trends were observed in time spent in either arm, or in the number of entries into the open arms.