Forgetting & Memory Lab

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====== Experiment Numbering and Shorthand ======

All experiments will receive a unique ID that will be used in all documents for cross-reference.  We also use a shorthand notation used together with the experiment ID in protocols and data files to describe the experimental procedure applied.

==== Experiment ID ====
The ID consists of three numbers and follows the following format: YY.PPP.NN
  - YY: the year in which the experiment was conducted (or started in case it extends over many years) [2 digits]
  - PPP: the project number [3 digits]
  - NN: the experiment number within the project [2 digits]

=== Example ===
The experiment id **22.005.75** refers to an experiment conducted/started in the year 2022, within project 005 (Interference project; see here for the list of projects), and it was the 75th experiment conducted in that project.

==== Protocol Shorthand ====
In order to quickly communicate the general procedure of an experiment, we use a shorthand notation.  Usually, this is part of file names related to an experiment, and also the main data folder containing these data files.

The steps of the experiment, i.e., the experimental phases, are listed in sequence in this notation.  Here is an example for such a descriptor: **S(5mX3d) R(24h) P(O)**.  This refers to an object recognition experiment in which animals first participated in Sampling (**S**), where each Sampling trial took 5 min (**5m**), one trial per day for 3 days (**3d**). After the last day of Sampling, there was a memory retention interval (**R**) of 24 hours (**24h**), and then followed the Probe trial (**P**), in which we tested novel object recognition (**O**).  We only note the duration of the probe trial if it is different from our standard length of 3 minutes.

==== More examples for notations ====

  - **S(10m) R(1h) P(L)**: A single, 5 minute long Sampling trial followed 1 hour later with an object location recognition Probe trial.
  - **S(5mX7d) R(1d) dHC(3d, 3Y vs 3A, AM-PM) R(1d) P(L)**: Seven days of 5 min long sampling trials, one day later infusions started.  Drug GluA2-3Y or GluA2-3A were infused into the dorsal hippocampus AM and PM for 3 consecutive days. The next day, a Probe trial for novel object location recognition followed. 
  - **[dHC(MB v V) R(15m) S(5m)]X3d R(1d) P(O)** For 3 consecutive days, animals were first infused with MB or Vehicle into the dorsal hippocampus, and 15 min later, the participated in a 5 minute long sampling trial. One day after the last sampling trial, animals participated in a probe trial for object memory. 
  - **dHC(AP5 vs Ctrl) R(20m) CFC(Ctxt C, 240s, 3xUS[1s, 0.9 mA, 90s ISI], 180s) R(24h) T(Ctxt C, 600s)**.  This is a contextual fear conditioning experiment (CFC). First, animals were infused into the dorsal hippocampus with AP5 or Control drug, then, 20 min later, contextual fear conditioning was run in Context C, where after 240 seconds the first of 3 shocks was delivered.  Each shock lasted 1 second, was 0.9 mA strong, and the shocks were separated from one another by an inter stimulus interval of 90 seconds.  The animals remained 180 seconds after the last shock in the context.  Twenty-four hours later, the test was administered in Context C, and the test took 600 seconds.