Time in Open Quadrants
Duration spent in unenclosed sections of the ring
ConductVision · Behavioral Analysis
Zero Maze
Measure anxiety-like behavior on a circular elevated track with open and enclosed quadrants.
RodentAnxietyAuto Export
ConductVision / Zero Maze
Recording / Trial 3subject tracked
Open Time28%
Head Dips22
Distance5.6m
Key Parameters
Metrics automatically extracted by ConductVision.
Time in Closed Quadrants
Duration spent in walled sections
Open Quadrant Entries
Number of transitions into open sections
Head Dips
Exploratory head movements over the edge of open quadrants
Distance Traveled
Total path length around the ring
Stretch-Attend Postures
Risk-assessment behaviors at open-closed boundaries
+ 5 more parameters trackedShow allHide
Latency to First Open Entry
Time from placement to first open quadrant entry
Open Quadrant Duration Ratio
Percentage of session time in open sections — primary anxiety index
Transition Zones
Time spent at open-closed boundaries reflecting risk assessment
Velocity
Mean angular movement speed around the ring
Freezing Episodes
Immobility bouts in open quadrants indicating acute fear
What is the Zero Maze?
The Zero Maze (Elevated Zero Maze) is a circular variant of the elevated plus maze that eliminates the ambiguous center zone. The continuous ring has two open and two enclosed quadrants, providing a cleaner measure of approach–avoidance conflict in anxiety research.
ConductVision tracks the animal's angular position on the ring in real time, automatically scoring open vs. closed quadrant occupancy without the confound of center-zone dwell time inherent in plus-maze designs.
Protocol Parameters
| Parameter | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Ring Outer Diameter | Outer diameter of the circular track | 60 cm (mouse) / 105 cm (rat) |
| Track Width | Width of the running surface | 5 cm (mouse) / 10 cm (rat) |
| Wall Height | Height of enclosed quadrant walls | 15 cm (mouse) / 27 cm (rat) |
| Elevation | Height above the floor | 40 cm (mouse) / 70 cm (rat) |
| Open/Closed Ratio | Proportion of track that is open vs enclosed | 50/50 (2 open, 2 closed) |
| Test Duration | Standard session length | 5 min |
| Light Intensity | Overhead illumination | 300 lux |
| Start Position | Animal placement at trial start | Closed quadrant, facing wall |
| Quadrant Entry | Criterion for scoring a quadrant entry | All four paws |
Interpreting Results
↓
Decreased Open Quadrant Time
Elevated anxiety — avoidance of unprotected sections, enhanced in chronic stress models and anxiogenic drug conditions.
↑
Increased Open Quadrant Entries
Anxiolytic effect — more frequent transitions into open sections after diazepam (1–2 mg/kg) or chronic SSRI treatment.
↓
Reduced Head Dips
Suppressed risk assessment — fewer exploratory dips over the edge from open quadrants indicates heightened anxiety.
↑
Increased Stretch-Attend Postures
Cautious exploration — body elongation at boundaries without full entry reflects ambivalent approach-avoidance.
↓
Reduced Distance Traveled
Sedation or freezing — overall hypolocomotion must be dissociated from genuine anxiety effects.
↑
Prolonged Latency to First Open Entry
Initial anxiety — delayed first approach to open quadrants; sensitive to acute anxiogenic challenges.
Research Applications
Anxiety Research
- Anxiolytic screening — eliminates center zone ambiguity of the elevated plus maze
- Chronic stress — social defeat and restraint stress effects on open quadrant avoidance
- Ethological measures — head dips and SAPs provide richer behavioral profiles than EPM
Pharmacology
- Benzodiazepine dose-response — diazepam, chlordiazepoxide anxiolytic validation
- Novel anxiolytics — CRF1 antagonists, neuropeptide Y agonists, and GABA modulators
- Withdrawal states — ethanol and benzodiazepine withdrawal anxiety assessment
Genetic & Circuit
- Transgenic models — 5-HT1A, CRHR1, and GABA receptor subunit knockout anxiety phenotyping
- Optogenetic circuit dissection — BLA-CeA and vHPC-mPFC pathway contributions to anxiety
- Strain comparisons — zero maze avoids center-zone confound across inbred strains
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