Testing long-term memory in animal models of schizophrenia: Suggestions from CNTRICS

•Long-term memory changes in schizophrenia are summarized.•A number of candidate paradigms for studying animal models of schizophrenia are discussed.•Two paradigms – one for rodents and one for non-human primates – were are recommended as particularly promising for further development.

This paper reports the results of discussions at the fourth meeting of Cognitive Neuroscience Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (CNTRICS) meeting, held over two days in Washington, DC in April 2011. The meeting focused on animal paradigms for assessing the cognitive constructs relevant to schizophrenia identified in previous CNTRICS meetings. This report focuses on the outcome of discussions in the general area of long-term memory. A number of candidate animal paradigms were discussed. Two of these – one for rodents and one for non-human primates – were recommended as particularly promising for further development.