Keep cool: memory is retained during hibernation in Alpine marmots.

摘要: Hibernators display severe changes in brain structure during deep torpor, including alterations synaptic constitution. To address a possible effect on long-term memory, we examined learning behavior and memory of the hibernator Marmota marmota. In two operant conditioning tasks, marmots learned to jump boxes or walk through tube. The animals were trained their active season. Performance improved training phase remained stable last test, four weeks before entrance into hibernation. When retested after six months hibernation, skills found be unimpaired (box: hibernation: 258.2 ± 17.7 s, 275.0 19.8 s; tube: 158.4 9.0 137.7 6.3 s). Contrary these findings, seemed less fixed season, since test procedure resulted impaired performance. Besides conditioning, investigated animals' habituation novel environment by repeated open field exposure. first run, showed exploratory thus high locomotor activity was observed (63.6 10.7 crossed squares). Upon second exposure, all immediately moved one corner locomotion ceased (7.2 1.9 This not altered even hibernation (6.1 1.1 We conclude that is unaffected Alpine marmots.