Radial-arm experiment maze LE768

for animal researchfor ratsfor mice

Used in behavioural laboratories for evaluating working and reference memory in rodents Presentation The Eight Arms Radial Maze is extensively used in behavioural laboratories for evaluating spatial memory but also non-spatial memory associated with motivational cues (classically food). Operating principle The BIOSEB radial maze consists in a central area with eight sliding doors giving access to eight equally-sized arms. The maze, made of black Plexiglas, is mounted on a tripod with adjustable height high (until 1 m). Each arm has lateral walls with a height higher in the proximal side of the arm than in the distal side. In the distal extreme of each arm, a detachable recessed cup can be installed or replaced by cover (all included). The sliding doors can be opened and closed manually or automatically, with two options in both cases: • Manual doors operation can be made by the user in-site, by means of a mechanical thread system with pulley or off-site, by using a control unit with eight switches, one for each sliding door. • Automated doors operation can be controlled by the animal position throughout the test using the Mazesoft-8 software associated with photoelectrical cell mounted on the radial maze and the corresponding control units, or using the SMART video-tracking system associated with the Input/Output device. A water version of the radial maze is also available. Parameters Measured • Chronological sequence of animal positioning in the radial maze (MAZESOFT-8 and SMART) • Time of entry in each zone (MAZESOFT-8 and SMART) • Current position (MAZESOFT-8 and SMART) • Total number of entries in each zone (MAZESOFT-8 and SMART)