NexCre cTKOs show hyperactivity and severe deficits in learning and memory tasks.Figure 6A: NexCre cTKOs show a significantly reduced nest score. [geno F(1,18) = 26.00, p < 0.0001] B: Burrowing: Pellets removed from tube after 4 and 24 h. Maximum to be removed = 310 g. Burrowing behavior was impaired in NexCre cTKOs [geno F(1,18) = 12.95, p = 0.0021; time F(1,18) = 29.46, p < 0.0001 ; time × geno F(1,18) = 1.407 ns]. C: T-Maze alternation test shows that spontaneous alternation is absent in NexCre cTKOs. [geno F(1,16) = 18.29, p = 0.0006]. Chance level is indicated by a dotted line. D: Radial Arm Maze (RAM). During training, NexCre cTKO mice made less correct among the first 8 choices than LM controls. [geno F(1,18) = 24.72, p < 0.0001; day F(2,36) = 0.662 ns ; day × geno F(2,36) = 0.044 ns]. E: RAM, NexCre cTKO animals made significantly more reentry errors than controls during training. [geno F(1,16) = 28.42, p < 0.0001; day F(2,32) = 1.209 ns ; day × geno F(2,32) = 0.094 ns]. F: RAM, The number of memory errors increased in all groups with the numbers of baits already collected. This increase is considerably stronger in NexCre cTKO animals. [geno F(1,16) = 35.56, p < 0.0001; bait F(2,32) = 85.05, p < 0.0001 ; bait × geno F(2,32) = 3.138, p = 0.0570]. G: RAM, Throughout training NexCre cTKOs have a stronger tendency than controls to repeatedly visit a preferred arm. [geno F(1,18) = 11.51, p = 0.0033; day F(2,36) = 0.012 ns; day × geno F(2,36) = 0.965 ns]. H: RAM, In contrast to LM controls, NexCre cTKO animals did not collect all baits during the test. [geno F(1,18) = 12.98, p = 0.0022] I: Barnes Maze (BM), Throughout training, latency to escape the maze did not decrease in NexCre cTKO animals. [geno F(1,16) = 12.63, p = 0.0027; day F(4,64) = 7.320, p < 0.0001; day × geno F(4,64) = 5.796, p = 0.0005]. J: BM, NexCre cTKO animals failed reduce their number of errors during training. [geno F(1,16) = 2.316 ns; day F(4,64) = 2.991, p = 0.0251; day × geno F(4,64) = 6.341, p = 0.0002]. K: BM, Trials of NexCre cTKO mice with a direct spatial strategy was strongly reduced compared to LM controls. [strategy F(2,32) = 2,324 ns; geno x strategy F(2,32) = 11.53, p = 0.0002]. L: BM, NexCre cTKO mice showed a higher latency to leave the starting point in center of the maze. [geno F(1,16) = 13.17, p = 0.0023; day F(4,64) = 1.354 ns ; day × geno F(4,64) = 0.995 ns]. M: BM, During the probe trial, NexCre cTKO animals made fewer pokes and showed no evidence of spatial selectivity for the goal position. [geno F(1,16) = 12.00, p = 0.0032; angle F(4,64) = 16.14, p < 0.0001 ; angle × geno F(4,64) = 8.902, p < 0.0001]. N: Morris Water Maze (MWM), escape latency. During place navigation training, NexCre cTKO animals showed no evidence of learning. [geno F(1,18) = 30.53, p < 0.0001; day F(4,72) = 13.35, p < 0.0001 ; day × geno F(4,72) = 11.77 p < 0.0001]. O: MWM, swim path. In contrast to LM controls, NexCre cTKO animals did not shorten their swim path over trials. [geno F(1,18) = 25.67, p < 0.0001; day F(4,72) = 9.273, p < 0.0001 ; day × geno F(4,72) = 12.86, p < 0.0001]. P: MWM, Swim speed of NexCre cTKO animals was lower than in LM controls. [geno F(1,18) = 16.23, p = 0.0008; day F(4,72) = 1.787 ns ; day × geno F(4,72) = 0.615 ns]. Q: MWM, In contrast to LM controls, NexCre cTKO showed no preference for the trained target quadrant [geno F(1,18) = 14.57, p = 0.0013; day F(1,18) = 5.997, p = 0.0248 ; day × geno F(1,18) = 3.509, p = 0.0774]. R: MWM, Representative occupancy plots during the probe trial. Dwell times were summed across all tested LM and cTKO mice, respectively, and then z-transformed. LM mice show a highly focused spatial search strategy for the trained platform position, while cTKO spend most of their time close to the wall.