The Object Space Task reveals a dissociation between semantic-like and episodic-like memory in a mouse model of Kleefstra Syndrome

Kleefstra syndrome is a disorder caused by a mutation in the EHMT1 gene characterized in humans by general developmental delay, mild to severe intellectual disability and autism. Here, we characterized semantic- and episodic-like memory in the Ehmt1+/- mouse model using the Object Space Task. We combined conventional behavioral analysis with automated analysis by deep-learning networks, a session-based computational learning model and a trial-based classifier. Ehmt1 +/- mice showed more anxiety-like features and generally explored objects less, but the difference decreased over time. Interestingly, when analyzing memory-specific exploration, Ehmt1 +/- show increased expression of semantic-like memory, but a deficit in episodic-like memory. A similar dissociation of semantic and episodic memory performance has been previously reported in humans with autism. Using our automatic classifier to differentiate between genotypes, we found that semantic-like memory features are better suited for classification than general exploration differences. Thus, detailed behavioral classification with the Object Space Task produced a more detailed behavioral phenotype of the Ehmt1 +/- mouse model.\n\nOne Sentence SummaryEhmt1 +/- mice show decreased exploration and episodic-like memory but increased semantic-like memory In the Object Space Task. (143 of 150)