Novel object recognition (NOR) was tested using the Bevins and Besheer protocol (Bevins and Besheer, 2006). Mice were habituated in a black Plexiglas rectangular chamber (31 × 24 cm, height 27 cm) for 10 min on 2 consecutive days under dim ambient lighting conditions (30 lux). The activity of mice was recorded with a video camera. Each test had two phases – acquisition and testing. For the acquisition phase, two identical ‘familiar’ objects were placed in corners of the chamber, 8–9 cm from the walls. A mouse was placed at the mid-point of the wall opposite the sample objects. After allowing 10 min to explore the objects, the mouse was returned to the colony. The testing phase was performed 24 h after the acquisition. For testing, one of the objects was replaced with a novel object of the same height and volume, but different shape and appearance. The mouse was again placed in the chamber to explore the objects for 3 min. The animal was considered to be exploring the object if its head was directed at the object and
