Effects of light or dark phase testing on behavioural and cognitive performance in DBA mice (2006)

Roedel, A., Storch, C., Holsboer, F. et al.

Abstract

Naive DBA/2N (DBA) mice were tested in the modified hole board (mHB) either during the dark phase under red light or during the light phase under white light. Different behavioural dimensions and cognitive functions were evaluated in parallel. Depending on the testing conditions, the results showed significant differences in behavioural activity, with DBA mice being less inhibited during dark phase. The same experimental group made fewer memory errors in a visuo-spatial task and showed a faster habituation compared with the group tested during the dark phase. From the results we conclude that testing during the light phase induces a pronounced behavioural inhibition as well as a cognitive disruption in DBA mice, which should be taken into account when cognitively testing these animals.