# Development of visual-stimulus reversal learning-memory in mice is dependent on social interaction

## TL;DR

Mice learn better with social interaction, especially during adolescence, when it helps them adapt to changing visual tasks.

## Contribution

The study reveals how social interaction influences reversal learning and memory development in adolescent mice.

## Key findings

- Socially reared mice made fewer long-term reversal errors at 6 weeks compared to 7 weeks.
- Isolated mice showed fewer long-term reversal errors, possibly due to immature memory retention.
- Social interaction enhances reversal learning in short-term memory tasks.

## Abstract

Flexible learning about visual stimuli and reward was investigated in male mice in terms of development, social stimulation, and memory. In a sucrose foraging task, mice learned that one of the two complex visual stimuli was correct (compound discrimination, CD), followed 1 day later by rule reversal (CD reversal, CDR). Socially reared (SR) mice aged 6–12 weeks were tested at one weekly age: while all ages had CDR > CD errors, CDR errors were low at week 6, possibly due to immature long-term memory. Next, effects of social condition and memory were investigated: SR and socially isolated (SI, weeks 5–8) mice were tested on same day CD-CDR (working memory) or consecutive day CD-CDR (long-term memory): in each condition, SR mice had CDR > CD errors; SI mice had this in working memory, but CDR = CD errors in long-term memory, possibly reflecting easier reversal due to the prolongation of immature long-term memory.

•Social mice display fewer long-term reversal-learning errors at week 6 vs. 7•Isolated vs. social mice (week 5–8) display typical short-term reversal-learning•Isolated vs. social mice (week 5–8) display fewer long-term reversal-learning errors•Social isolation retains long-term memory in a less-efficient adolescent state

Social mice display fewer long-term reversal-learning errors at week 6 vs. 7

Isolated vs. social mice (week 5–8) display typical short-term reversal-learning

Isolated vs. social mice (week 5–8) display fewer long-term reversal-learning errors

Social isolation retains long-term memory in a less-efficient adolescent state

Biological sciences; Neuroscience; Sensory neuroscience