Time in Open Arms
Duration spent in the unprotected open arms
ConductVision · Behavioral Analysis
Elevated Plus Maze
Measure anxiety-like behavior through open vs. closed arm exploration.
RodentAnxietyAuto Export
ConductVision / Elevated Plus Maze
Recording / Trial 3subject tracked
Open Arm Time32%
Arm Entries14
Distance4.8m
Key Parameters
Metrics automatically extracted by ConductVision.
Time in Closed Arms
Duration spent in the enclosed closed arms
Open Arm Entries
Number of entries into open arms
Time in Center Zone
Duration at the central intersection
Total Distance Traveled
Cumulative path length across the maze
Closed Arm Entries
Number of entries into closed arms as locomotion control
+ 6 more parameters trackedShow allHide
Open Arm Duration Ratio
Percentage of session time in open arms — primary anxiety index
Risk Assessment
Stretch-attend postures and protected head dips from closed arms
Latency to First Open Entry
Time from session start to first open arm entry
Rearing
Frequency of upright exploratory postures in open vs closed arms
Grooming
Self-grooming episodes as displacement behavior under anxiety
Velocity
Mean movement speed across all maze zones
What is the Elevated Plus Maze?
The Elevated Plus Maze is a widely validated tool for studying anxiety-related behaviors. The apparatus consists of two open arms and two closed arms extending from a central platform, elevated above the floor. Rodents naturally prefer the enclosed arms, and increased open-arm exploration indicates reduced anxiety.
ConductVision automates movement tracking across the maze, recording entries and time spent in each arm without manual observation. The software generates detailed reports with heat maps, trajectory plots, and statistical analyses suitable for pharmacological screens and longitudinal behavioral studies.
Protocol Parameters
| Parameter | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Arm Length | Length of each open and closed arm | 50 cm (rat) / 30 cm (mouse) |
| Arm Width | Width of each arm | 10 cm (rat) / 5 cm (mouse) |
| Closed Arm Wall Height | Height of enclosed arm walls | 40 cm (rat) / 15 cm (mouse) |
| Platform Elevation | Height above the floor | 50 cm (rat) / 40 cm (mouse) |
| Test Duration | Standard session length | 5 min |
| Light Intensity | Overhead illumination level | 300 lux |
| Start Position | Animal placement at trial start | Center platform, facing closed arm |
| Arm Entry Definition | Criterion for scoring an arm entry | All four paws in arm |
| Habituation | Room acclimation before testing | 30–60 min |
Interpreting Results
↓
Decreased Open Arm Time
Elevated anxiety-like behavior — seen in PTSD models, chronic stress paradigms, and after anxiogenic drug administration (FG-7142, yohimbine).
↑
Increased Open Arm Entries
Anxiolytic effect — classic response to benzodiazepines (diazepam 1–2 mg/kg), SSRIs after chronic dosing, and ethanol.
↓
Reduced Total Entries
Motor impairment or sedation confound — must dissociate from genuine anxiety changes using closed arm entries as locomotion control.
↑
Increased Risk Assessment
Heightened threat appraisal without full avoidance — stretch-attend postures are sensitive to low-dose anxiolytics and partial agonists.
↓
Reduced Head Dips
Suppressed exploratory drive — unprotected head dips from open arms are among the most sensitive EPM measures for anxiogenic compounds.
↑
Prolonged Grooming
Displacement activity under conflict — excessive self-grooming in the maze suggests high anxiety state without overt avoidance.
Research Applications
Anxiolytic Drug Screening
- Benzodiazepine validation — diazepam, chlordiazepoxide dose-response curves
- SSRI chronic efficacy — fluoxetine, sertraline after 2–3 weeks of dosing
- Novel anxiolytic targets — 5-HT1A agonists, CRF1 antagonists, GABA modulators
Stress & Anxiety Models
- Chronic unpredictable stress — longitudinal anxiety phenotyping across stress paradigms
- PTSD models — single prolonged stress, predator odor exposure effects on open arm avoidance
- Early-life stress — maternal separation effects on adult anxiety-like behavior
Genetic & Translational
- Transgenic anxiety models — CRHR1 overexpression, serotonin transporter knockouts
- Strain comparisons — BALB/c (high anxiety) vs C57BL/6 (low anxiety) baselines
- Circuit dissection — optogenetic manipulation of BLA-CeA and mPFC-amygdala pathways
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