Fig. 1

Developmental onset APP/tTA mice display impaired spatial working but normal spatial reference memory. a Developmental onset APP/tTA mice showed reduced spontaneous alternation in the T-maze (control mean = 81.4 ± 2.8, n = 9; APP/tTA mean = 65.8 ± 5.4, n = 9). Dashed line represents chance level of performance of 50%. b Developmental onset APP/tTA mice exhibited impaired performance on the Morris water maze, as evidenced by longer latency to platform scores compared to control WT, tTA and APP mice (WT n = 10, tTA n = 8, APP n = 9, APP/tTA n = 15). * WT vs. APP/tTA, ^% tTA vs. APP/tTA, ^& APP vs. APP/tTA. c Probe trial performed at the end of MWM testing showed a significant difference in time spent within the target quadrant. Control groups, but not APP/tTA, performed significantly better compared to chance performance of 25% (dashed line; WT mean = 42.5 ± 4.7; tTA mean = 48.2 ± 6.8; APP mean = 48.4 ± 5.65; APP/tTA mean = 28.6 ± 5.10). d Thigmotaxis analysis, measuring time spent within maze perimeter, showed that developmental onset APP/tTA mice were more thigmotaxic compared to control littermates. * WT vs. APP/tTA, ^% tTA vs. APP/tTA, ^& APP vs. APP/tTA. e Developmental onset APP/tTA mice showed normal spatial reference memory acquisition on the Y-water maze (control n = 6, APP/tTA n = 6). Dashed line represents chance level of performance of 50%. f Developmental onset APP/tTA mice were not significantly different from control littermates during probe trial testing (control mean = 58.8 ± 3.65; APP/tTA mean = 54.5 ± 8.97). Dashed line represents chance level of performance of 33.3%