Animal research experiment maze Fictive Reward

for micefor rats

Fictive Reward Maze is a learning task that involves studying and observing surroundings and making adaptive future choices accordingly. It tests learning capability of the subject to analyze and compare reward and punishment without actually experiencing them. The maze is linear, elevated and consists of two start boxes and goals respectively. At the start of the test session, the subject is placed in the start box, and auditory sounds are ringed. The number of sounds reflects the magnitude of the reward. The subject leaves the start box and arrives at the chosen target to receive the actual reward. The fictive reward is served in the unchosen goal that is visible through the transparent wall.