OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of iron deficiency on memory and learning capability in rats. METHODS: Sixty four SD rats were randomly assigned to the control group and the experimental group. The experimental group received a low iron content diet, and the control group got 5 mg iron dextrin weekly by intraperitoneal injection. The iron contents in the brain and liver were determined using the DCP AES technique in all the rats at the second and tenth week. The memory and learning capability were tested by means of the MG 2 model maze. RESULTS: In the iron deficient nonanemic stage, the iron content of the brain was significantly lower than that of the control group [( 11.2 ± 5.5 ) μg/g vs ( 20.7 ± 6.5 ) μg/g](P< 0.01 ). And the memory and learning capability tended to be low. The iron content of the brain of the experimental group in the anemic stage was much lower [( 13.7 ± 3.5 ) μg/g vs ( 26.1 ± 2.7 ) μg/g](P< 0.01 ) and the memory and learning capability remained markedly lower compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that iron deficient rats had memory and learning defects which may be related to the low iron content of the brain.