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:
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