Basic neuroscienceSpatial radial maze procedures and setups to dissociate local and distal relational spatial frameworks in humans

- Radial maze tasks in real and virtual environment adapted for humans.
- Enables control and dissociation of local and relational distal cues.
- Assessment of long-term and short-term memory for places.
- Flexible devices and procedures easily adapted for different subjects.
- In our mazes, the relative weight of local and distal cues revealed gender effect.

BackgroundRadial maze tasks have been used to assess optimal foraging and spatial abilities in rodents. The spatial performance was based on a capacity to rely on a configuration of local and distant cues. We adapted maze procedures assessing the relative weight of local cues and distant landmarks for arm choice in humans.New methodThe procedure allowed testing memory of places in four experimental setups: a fingertip texture-groove maze, a tactile screen maze, a virtual radial maze and a walking size maze. During training, the four reinforced positions remained fixed relative to local and distal cues. During subsequent conflict trials, these frameworks were made conflictive in the prediction of reward locations.ResultsThree experiments showed that the relative weight of local and distal relational cues is affected by different factors such as cues' nature, visual access to the environment, real vs. virtual environment, and gender. A fourth experiment illustrated how a walking maze can be used with people suffering intellectual disability.Comparison with existing methodsIn our procedure, long-term (reference) and short-term (working) memory can be assessed. It is the first radial task adapted to human that enables dissociating local and distal cues, to provides an indication as to their relative salience. Our mazes are moveable and easily used in limited spaces. Tasks are performed with realistic and spontaneous though controlled exploratory movements.ConclusionOur tasks enabled highlighting the use of different strategies. In a clinical perspective, considering the use of compensatory strategies should orient towards adapted behavioural rehabilitation.