The novel object recognition (NOR) test is used to test the memory for the shape, size, and location of objects. It capitalizes on the preference of mice for novelty, as this test measures how long the mouse interacts with a novel object. For the mouse to identify an object as novel, it has to remember that it has seen the object before. The novel object recognition test is therefore used as a test of memory function. The duration of exploration serves as a measure of memory retention, with a greater exploration time directed toward the novel object indicating successful memory encoding.

Our scientists have previously shown impaired NOR performance in SNAP-25 heterozygous knockout mice, which is a risk gene for ADHD (Corradini et al. 2014).