Task overview

The task tests memory for serial position/order.

The task operates with a five-hole box (5 holes of the traditional 9-hole box [1]), with a rear food magazine at the back. All ‘holes’ have a light inside and an infrared nosepoke detector; the food magazine can also dispense pellets. Like this:

_images/five_choice_apparatus.png

In brief, trials are as follows:

  • Trials begin with illumination of the food magazine/tray, and the subject must respond.

  • A sequence of lights is presented. For example, if a 4-light sequence is used, the task may aim to present 4-1-3-5. After each individual light presentation, the subject must acknowledge by responding to the location of the light, and after that to the magazine (again signalled by magazine light illumination).

  • After the sequence has been presented and acknowledged, a choice of two of the presented lights is offered (e.g. 4, 3). The subject must choose the correct hole to answer the question: “which one came first?” Success leads to food.

Footnotes