The Barnes Maze is a valid alternative to the water maze to study spatial learning and memory. The motivational drive is the rodent’s instinctive aversion for open spaces and natural preference for dark, “sheltered” spaces.
Reliable and durable. Optimized for use with video-tracking software. Available for mice or rats. Easy to set up, easy to clean.
Background
The rodent seeks the small dark recessed chamber located under one of the exposed, escape holes around the perimeter of the open circular platform.
Researchers can measure time period to locate the correct hole, number of incorrect holes explored, and exploratory path length.
If used as an alternative to the water maze, this maze is generally less stressful, especially mice. It also suits animals unable to perform strenuous activity.
Easy to set up, perfect for video tracking
Quick and easy to set up.
Engineered by Ugo Basile to optimize video tracking success through our use of high contrast, non-reflective surfaces:
Selection of high-contrast colors for optimal motion tracking: grey, white, black, (Ugo Basile) light-blue or custom.
Use of non-reflective, anti-glare surface. Reflections and glare are a common source of error in video tracking. We avoid this!
The shelter chamber can be easily attached magnetically to a hole and also quickly rotated around the table. (And fast to detach for cleaning.)
Removable ramp for easy entry.
False/fake shelters (cups or coasters) are available as optional to remove visual cues that might be observed by the animal from a distance or through open holes.
Stable and sturdy models for mice or rats.