Table 1 Statistical analyses of the data for male mice in the founder (F0) generation consuming drinking water containing 0.015% or 0.03% aspartame or plain drinking water (control).

From: Learning and memory deficits produced by aspartame are heritable via the paternal lineage

Behavioral parameter and statistical test

Variable

F(df) (ANOVA)

t (Bonferroni)

χ2(df) (chi-square)

A

Spontaneous alternations in Y-maze (repeated measures two-way ANOVA)

Drinking water treatment

14.35(2,21)****

Duration of exposure

0.78(1.43,30.09)

Treatment × duration

0.77(4,42)

B

Spontaneous alternations in Y-maze (Bonferroni multiple comparisons for each of 3 intervals)

0.015% aspartame versus control

Week 4

4.23**

Week 8

4.78***

Week 12

3.27*

0.03% aspartame versus control

Week 4

2.73

Week 8

3.72**

Week 12

4.30**

0.015% versus 0.03% aspartame

Week 4

0.87

Week 8

0.28

Week 12

0.39

C

Total number of arm entries in Y-maze (repeated measures two-way ANOVA)

Drinking water treatment

0.12(2,21)

Duration of exposure

0.78(1.58,33.26)

Treatment × duration

0.18(4,42)

D

Barnes maze, acquisition of learning: primary errors (2-way Repeated measures ANOVA)

Session

88.83(4.18,87.75)****

Drinking water treatment

14.07(2,21)***

Session × treatment

1.11(18,189)

E

Barnes maze, acquisition of learning: primary latency (2-way repeated measures ANOVA)

Session

61.64(4.64,97.40)****

Drinking water treatment

10.63(2,21)***

Session × treatment

1.24(18,189)

F

Search strategy during acquisition of learning (chi-square)

Drinking water treatment

30.96(14)**

G

Barnes maze, probe trial: time in target quadrant (1-way ANOVA)

Drinking water treatment

0.86(2,21)

H

Barnes maze, reversal effect: primary errors (1-way ANOVA)

Drinking water treatment

0.47(2,21)

I

Barnes maze, reversal effect: primary latency (1-way ANOVA)

Drinking water treatment

0.76(2,21)

J

Barnes maze, reversal learning over 4 days: primary errors (2-way repeated measures ANOVA)

Session

213.60(2.34,49.06)****

Drinking water treatment

2.86(2,21)

Session × treatment

0.46(6,63)

K

Barnes maze, reversal learning over 4 days: primary latency (2-way repeated measures ANOVA)

Session

389.30(2.51,52.79)****

Drinking water treatment

2.79(2,21)

Session × treatment

1.23(6,63)

L

Search strategy during reversal learning (chi-square)

Drinking water treatment

27.87(14)****

M

Total time immobile in tail suspension test (one-way ANOVA)

Drinking water treatment

0.10(2,21)

  1. Statistical analyses of the data from Y-maze (A–C), Barnes maze (D–L) and tail suspension test (M) for male mice in the founder (F0) generation that consumed drinking water containing aspartame (0.015% or 0.03%) or plain drinking water (control). The statistical test used for each analysis is indicated. Spatial working memory was analyzed using spontaneous alternations (A,B) and total number of arm entries (C) in the Y-maze. Spatial learning and memory [acquisition of learning (D–F), probe trial (G) and reversal learning (H–L) were analyzed using the Barnes maze. Learned helplessness was analyzed using the tail suspension test (M). Statistical significance is indicated as follows: *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001; and ****p < 0.0001.
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