Delayed Matching-to-Sample Task (DMTS)

Description

The standard DMTS task for NHPs is useful for assessing the effects of therapeutic agents on "Working" and "Short-Term" memory. The task assesses an animal's ability to "Match" colors over a series of randomly presented delay intervals. Accuracy of the task is age dependent and sensitive to pro-cognitive agents (e.g., donepezil) that are currently prescribed for memory-related disorders such as Alzheimer's Disease. For more chronic studies we also offer a "titrating" version of this task in which retention intervals are increased or decreased in a step-wise fashion depending upon the choice accuracy of the preceding trial. This version of the task provides the advantage of assessing an animal's maximal performance level over time.

Purpose

The purpose of the DMTS-related tasks described aboved is to evaluate the effects of drugs, age, etc. on working and short-term memory, and attention.

Delayed Matching-to-Sample with Distractor (DMTS-D)

Description

This DMTS-D task is essentially the same as the standard DMTS except that about 20% of the trials (randomly dispersed) incorporate a task-relevant distractor (e.g., flashing colored lights) between presentation of the sample stimulus and presentation of the choice stimuli. This task (in addition to assessing working and short term memory) allows for the assessment of the effects of drugs, age, etc on attention and distractibility.

Purpose

The purpose of the DMTS-related tasks described aboved is to evaluate the effects of drugs, age, etc. on working and short-term memory, and attention.