Spatial learning and memory skills are imperative for the survival and fitness of subterranean rodents because of the harsh underground niche in which they live that necessitates the avoidance of higher energy expenditures or probable conflicts with conspecifics or predators. Our study aims to assess the spatial learning and working memory performance of a subterranean rodent species, plateau zokors (Eospalax baileyi), compared to that of the surface-dwelling plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae) and laboratory rats (Rattus norvegicus) which spend a considerable time of their lives above ground. Animals were tested with a spatial delayed alternation task in a T-maze for six consecutive days. Plateau zokors showed less efficient learning and working memory capacity in the T-maze compared to plateau pikas and laboratory rats, which maintained accurate and consistent increased spatial learning rates and working memory performances. The three species did not show bias towards a certain arm of the maze. Additionally, clear sex-specific differences were observed in the laboratory rats regarding spatial learning and working memory functions, while in pikas and zokors, no sex-specific variations were detected. The latency to accomplish the task was significantly lower in rats than in pikas and zokors, but no sex-specific differences were detected in all the species. The inferior performance of plateau zokors, compared to pikas and rats, in the T-maze might imply that although the functional significance of working memory may overlap in diverse taxonomic groups, the adaptive value thereof may differ considerably across taxa on account of the divergence in environmental stability, domestication, habitat structure, behavioural needs and the available sensory cues between species.

中文翻译：

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与高原鼠兔和实验鼠相比，评估高原z鼠的空间学习和工作记忆

空间学习和记忆技能对于地下啮齿动物的生存和适应性至关重要，因为它们生活在恶劣的地下环境中，因此有必要避免增加能源消耗或避免与物种或天敌的冲突。我们的研究旨在评估与地下居住的高原鼠兔（Ochotona curzoniae）和实验鼠（Rattus norvegicus）相比，地下啮齿动物高原鼠（Eospalax baileyi）的空间学习和工作记忆性能），他们在地面上花费了大量的时间。在T迷宫中连续六天对动物进行了空间延迟交替任务测试。与高原鼠兔和实验鼠相比，高原鼠科动物在T型迷宫中的学习和工作记忆能力较低，后者保持准确一致的空间学习率和工作记忆性能。这三个物种对迷宫的某个分支没有偏见。此外，在实验大鼠中，关于空间学习和工作记忆功能的性别特异性差异明显，而在鼠兔和大猩猩中，未发现性别差异。在大鼠中完成任务的潜伏期显着低于鼠兔和and鼠，但在所有物种中均未发现性别特异性差异。