Figure 2.

Spatial learning in mice that received control (CON) or (−)epicatechin (EPI) food pellets for 14 d. Thereafter, mice were fed control diet for the duration of study. Animals were trained in the water maze with four trials per day over 8 d between days 21 and 28. A, Acquisition of the task did not differ between the groups. B, C, Retention of the task was assessed using probe trials on days 4, 6, and 8 of training, as well as 24 h, 1 week, and 2 weeks after the last training session in mice fed CON (B) or EPI (C) diet. On day 4 of training, only the EPI group (C) showed a significant preference for the platform quadrant (NW; *p < 0.05). On days 6 and 8, the control (B) and (−)epicatechin (C) groups searched the target zone (NW) more than other quadrants (*p < 0.05). At 24 h and 1 week after the last training session, only the EPI mice (C) still preferred the platform quadrant (*p < 0.05). Error bars indicate SEM. NW, Northwest; NE, northeast; SE, southeast; SW, southwest.