The investigation of sexual and interspecies disparities in spatial learning and memory across two rodent species

Spatial learning and memory are critical for animal survival, enabling adaptation to changing and unpredictable environments. These abilities enhance competitiveness and fitness by supporting navigation, resource acquisition, and predator avoidance. Understanding how spatial learning and memory vary among species with different living conditions can provide insights into the evolutionary pressures shaping these skills. In this study, we examine learning and memory abilities from an ecological perspective by comparing Brandt’s voles (Lasiopodomys brandti) with Kunming mice (Mus musculus) using complex maze tests. Brandt’s voles exhibited significantly shorter total task time (TTT) and fewer number of errors (NEI) compared to Kunming mice, highlighting superior spatial learning ability. Short-term memory (STMR) results revealed no significant differences between species as well as sex. For long-term memory (LTMR), Brandt’s voles demonstrated consistently better retention across all time points, reflected in lower TTT and NEI. While short-term forgetting rates (STFR) were comparable between species, long-term forgetting rates (LTFR) indicated that Kunming mice exhibited higher rates of memory loss over extended periods than Brandt’s voles, with male mice exhibiting higher rates of memory decline than females. Overall, the findings suggest that Brandt’s voles possess enhanced spatial learning and long-term memory capacities, likely reflecting adaptations to their living condition. This study contributes to our understanding of species- and sex-related differences in spatial learning and memory, providing evidence for the ecological basis of these cognitive traits in response to environmental challenges.