Long term aspartame consumption (40 mg/kg b.wt) attenuates the learning and memory in Wistar albino rats in both Morris water maze and Y maze. A, Effect of aspartame (40 mg/kg b.wt) during the training period of learning and attenuation of memory. B and C, Long term consumption of aspartame (40 mg/kg b.wt) attenuates the memory retention in probe trial. D, Evaluation of aspartame effect (40 mg/kg b.wt) on spatial working memory by Y maze. E, Evaluation of aspartame effect (40 mg/kg b.wt) on spatial recognition memory by Y maze. Comparison and analysis were done by the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) (n = 6) control group was compared with MTX control group and aspartame MTX group, MTX control group was compared with Aspartame MTX group. Data are expressed as mean ± SD, n = 6. *P ≤ 0.05. Control, MTX control – methotrexate treated group, Asp + MTX – Aspartame + Methotrexate treated group. Aspartame treated group when compared to control significance is marked as * and MTX treated groups significance is marked as #.