Spaced training improves learning in Ts65Dn and Ube3a mouse models of intellectual disabilities

Object location memory was detected in WT for both the massed and spaced training conditions. Ts65Dn did not display object location memory in the massed training condition, whereas the spaced training condition yielded significant object location memory. a WT displayed significantly more time exploring the object in the novel location versus the object in the familiar location, both when training trials were administered consecutively (massed: t1,11？=？4.66, ***p？<？0.001), and when the three training trials were administered at 1？h intervals (spaced: t1,16？=？6.57, ***p？<？0.001). No effect of training condition alone or of the interaction between training condition and object locations was detected in WT. b Ts65Dn did not display a significant difference between time spent exploring the object in the familiar location and the object in the novel location when training trials were administered consecutively (massed: t1,11？=？0.109, NS). Ts65Dn displayed significantly more time exploring the object in the novel location versus the object in the familiar location when training trials were administered at 1？h intervals (spaced: t1,11？=？3.06, df1,11, *p？<？0.02). A significant interaction between training conditions and object locations was detected by Two-Way ANOVA for Ts65Dn (p？<？0.05). c Discrimination index (DI) was lower in Ts65Dn mice given massed training trials as compared to WT given massed training trials (***p？<？0.001). Spaced training trials significantly elevated the DI in Ts65Dn, as compared to the DI in Ts65Dn given massed training trials (*p？<？0.05). A significant interaction between genotype and training condition was detected by Two-Way ANOVA (p？<？0.05). In all figures, data are expressed as mean？+？standard error of the mean. Numbers of mice in each genotype and training condition group are displayed within the graph