Open Field Test
Objective: Evaluation of exploratory behavior and anxiety-like behavior by measuring distance covered and time spent in corners of an open field
This is a Open Field Test protocol using rat as the model organism. The procedure involves 5 procedural steps, 4 equipment items. Extracted from a 1997 paper published in Journal of Neuroscience.
Model and subjects
rat • Not specified • Not specified • Adult • Not specified • Not specified
Study window
Estimated timing pending
Core workflow
Open Field Test • Y-maze Test • Elevated Plus-maze Test
Primary readouts
- Distance covered in open field
- Time spent in corners of open field
- Number of visits to different arms in Y-maze
- Time spent in open arms of elevated plus-maze
Key equipment and reagents
Use this page as an execution guide, then fall back to the source paper whenever you need exact exclusions, dosing details, or assay-specific caveats.
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- Verify the animal model, intervention setup, and collection timepoints against the source paper.
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- Jump to Experimental Context for readouts, data shape, and analysis flow before planning downstream analysis.
Protocol Steps
Start here. The step list is optimized for running the experiment, with direct vendor links available inline when you need to source a cited item.
Open Field Test
Rats are placed in an open field arena to evaluate behavioral reactivity to novelty. Distance covered and time spent in corners are measured as indicators of exploratory behavior and anxiety-like behavior respectively.
Note: This is one of four behavioral parameters used to assess emotional reactivity in response to novelty
View evidence from paper
“the distance covered in an open field, the time spent in the corners of the open field”
Y-maze Test
Rats are tested in a Y-maze to measure behavioral reactivity by counting the number of visits to different arms
Note: One of four behavioral parameters used to assess emotional reactivity in response to novelty
View evidence from paper
“the number of visits to different arms in a Y-maze”
Elevated Plus-maze Test
Rats are tested in an elevated plus-maze to measure anxiety-like behavior by recording time spent in open arms
Note: One of four behavioral parameters used to assess emotional reactivity in response to novelty
View evidence from paper
“the time spent in the open arms of an elevated plus-maze”
Water Maze Test
Rats are tested in a water maze to assess cognitive performance and spatial learning abilities
Note: Cognitive assessment measure
View evidence from paper
“Cognitive performance was assessed using a water maze and a two-trial memory test”
Two-trial Memory Test
Memory performance is assessed using a two-trial memory test
Note: Cognitive assessment measure
View evidence from paper
“Cognitive performance was assessed using a water maze and a two-trial memory test”