Rodent open field maze

Developed by Calvin S. Hall to test emotionality of rodents. The open field test (OFT) is a commonly used qualitative and quantitative measure of general locomotor activity and willingness to explore in rodents. The open field is a table that have surrounding walls to prevent escape. The field is marked in a grid and square crossings, rearing, and time spent moving are used to assess the activity of the rodent. Our open field apparatus use visial tracking system to automate the assessment process. The OFT is also often used to assess anxiety by including additional measures of: defecation, time spent in the center of the field, and the first five minutes of activity. Changes in these measures are often used to assess the sedative or stimulant effects of pharmacological agents. This basic behavioral assessment is used in almost every study involving rodent behavior. We use a visial tracking system for our OFT.