Accurate light entries and transitions for anxiety research
2D-AI tracking improves light-chamber entries, transitions, distance, and speed versus error-prone legacy counters—supporting reliable anxiety analytics.
LDBAnxiety5 min read
Light/Dark Box
Light/Dark Box (LDB): Principles & Protocol
Linked product · Lite Maze TrackingLite Maze Tracking
Overview
The Light/Dark Box Test (LDB) assesses anxiety-like state and exploration using connected light (large/bright) and dark (small/dim) chambers. Time in light, transitions, and latency to enter light reflect anxiety and exploratory drive.
It is used for anxiety mechanisms, anxiolytic evaluation, anxiety-model phenotyping, and amygdala-related studies.
Methods
- 1Bright and dark compartments connected by a doorway. In a quiet dim room, place the mouse in the light chamber facing the dark side; record 5 min of light dwell time, entries, and related measures.
Software capabilities
Analysis parameters
| Parameter | Description | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| sample_name | Sample name | — |
| group_label | Group label | — |
| total_distance | Total distance | cm |
| average_speed | Average speed | cm/s |
| xxx_distance | Distance in a region | cm |
| xxx_distance_ratio | Region distance ratio | % |
| xxx_average_speed | Average speed in a region | cm/s |
| xxx_time | Time in a region | s |
| xxx_time_ratio | Region time ratio | % |
| xxx_number_of_entries | Entries into a region | count |
| outside_distance | Distance outside regions | cm |
| outside_distance_ratio | Outside distance ratio | % |
| outside_time | Time outside regions | s |
| outside_time_ratio | Outside time ratio | % |
Advanced parameters
| Parameter | Description | Meaning | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| entries_into_light_chamber | Entries into light chamber | Number of entries into the light compartment | count |
| transitions | Total transitions between chambers | Total crossings between light and dark compartments | count |