BEHAVIORAL PROTOCOLS
Classic mouse behavioral protocols mapped to Lite Maze Tracking metrics and analysis capabilities.
Morris Water Maze (MWM): Principles & Protocol
The Morris Water Maze (MWM) is a classic assay of spatial learning and memory in rodents. Established by Richard Morris in 1981, animals search for a hidden escape platform in a circular pool, revealing spatial cognition and hippocampal-dependent memory.
Y-Maze Spontaneous Alternation: Principles & Protocol
The Y-Maze uses rodents’ drive to explore novelty. Three equal arms at 120° form a Y; spontaneous alternation—entering three different arms in succession—indexes spatial working memory and exploratory motivation.
Novel Object Recognition (NOR): Principles & Protocol
Novel Object Recognition (NOR) assays recognition memory via rodents’ preference for novelty: replacing a familiar object with a new one and comparing exploration time indexes memory retention and discrimination.
Three-Chamber Social Test: Principles & Protocol
The three-chamber social test measures social preference and social novelty in rodents using connected chambers and stranger mice as social stimuli.
Open Field Test (OFT): Principles & Protocol
The Open Field Test (OFT) assays locomotor activity, exploration, and anxiety-like behavior via the conflict between exploring a novel arena and avoiding its bright center (thigmotaxis).
Elevated Plus Maze (EPM): Principles & Protocol
The Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) assays anxiety-like behavior via conflict between exploring novelty and avoiding open elevated arms; open-arm time/entries index anxiety and threat avoidance.
Light/Dark Box (LDB): Principles & Protocol
The Light/Dark Box (LDB) assays anxiety-like behavior and exploration via conflict between photophobia and novelty seeking across bright and dark chambers.
Forced Swim Test (FST): Principles & Protocol
The Forced Swim Test (FST) assays depression-like behavioral despair: animals swim in an inescapable cylinder and the shift from struggling to floating (immobility) is quantified.
Tail Suspension Test (TST): Principles & Protocol
The Tail Suspension Test (TST) assays depression-like despair by suspending rodents by the tail; the shift from escape attempts to immobility indexes behavioral despair.
Fear Conditioning: Principles & Protocol
Contextual and cued fear conditioning pairs context or tone with footshock, then measures freezing to index associative fear memory and anxiety-like responding.
Home Cage Testing (HCT): Principles & Protocol
Home Cage Testing (HCT) monitors spontaneous behavior, circadian rhythms, and homeostasis in the familiar home cage with minimal human disturbance.