Hyperthermia impairs retrieval of an overtrained spatial task in the Morris water maze

Fifteen rats were trained to learn the location of a spatially fixed platform hidden in a Morris water maze (40 +/- 2 degrees C). Then retention of the spatial task was assessed immediately after raising core body temperature (Tc) to 42 or 40 degrees C or stabilizing at 37 degrees C (the normothermic control). The hyperthermic treatment order was counterbalanced according to a Latin-square design. Hyperthermia at 42 degrees C Tc significantly impaired spatial performance. Hyperthermic animals were cooled to normothermia (Tc = 37 degrees C) and spatial performance was tested again approximately 30 min later. Cooling resulted in a complete recovery of spatial performance. These results demonstrate that hyperthermia-induced amnesia can be obtained on an overtrained spatial-mapping strategy and cooling to normothermia initiates recovery of spatial performance.