3D Vertical Maze
Modular three-dimensional behavioral testing apparatus for investigating spatial cognition and social interaction in rodents, featuring vertical navigation chambers and configurable operant conditioning components.
Louise Corscadden, PhD
Director of Science · ConductScience
Ask Louise about 3D Vertical Maze fit, setup, configuration, or quote prep.
Already working with us? Sign in to connect this with My Scientist.
Key Specifications
Full details →- Model fit
- Mouse, Rat
- SKU family
- CS-958354
- Sizing
- 65.0 x 36.0 x 27.0 cm
- Ordering
- Online checkout and quote request available
- Category
- Behavioral Mazes
- Build notes
- Acrylic
The 3D Vertical Maze is a modular behavioral testing apparatus designed to investigate the interactions between social and spatial cognition in rodents. This innovative system combines vertical spatial navigation with social interaction paradigms, enabling researchers to study complex cognitive processes that mirror naturalistic three-dimensional environments. The apparatus features a three-chamber testing platform with two vertical columns, allowing simultaneous assessment of spatial learning, memory formation, and social behavioral responses.
The system accommodates both rats and mice with species-specific dimensions and includes configurable flooring options (wire grid, mesh, or solid acrylic) to suit different experimental protocols. Optional operant conditioning components, including automated levers, pellet dispensers, lights, and speakers, enable integration of reward-based learning paradigms with spatial navigation tasks. The modular design supports diverse experimental configurations for investigating hippocampal function, place cell activity, and social spatial cognition.
How It Works
The 3D Vertical Maze operates on the principle that rodents naturally navigate three-dimensional environments, making vertical spatial assessment more ecologically relevant than traditional horizontal maze paradigms. The apparatus consists of two vertical columns connected to a central three-chamber platform, creating distinct spatial zones at different heights. Animals navigate vertically between levels while encountering social cues from demonstrator animals positioned at specific height intervals (29.2 cm, 58.4 cm, and 87 cm for the rat version).
The modular design allows researchers to configure different flooring types and chamber arrangements to create specific spatial challenges. Wire grid flooring provides visual and olfactory cues between levels, while solid acrylic flooring restricts sensory information to specific modalities. The system can be enhanced with operant conditioning components to introduce reward-based decision making into the spatial navigation task, enabling assessment of how motivation and learning interact with spatial cognition.
Data collection focuses on navigation patterns, choice behaviors, time spent in different spatial zones, and social approach/avoidance responses. The vertical configuration activates place cells and spatial memory circuits differently than horizontal mazes, providing novel insights into how the brain processes three-dimensional spatial information in socially relevant contexts.
Features & Benefits
vertical_column_dimensions
- 30 × 50 x 90 cm each
number_of_chambers
- 3
number_of_vertical_columns
- 2
demonstrator_cage_positions
- 29.2 cm, 58.4 cm, and 87 cm heights
wall_type
- opaque acrylic walls
floor_options
- ['wire grid', 'mesh', 'acrylic']
optional_hardware
- ['automated levers', 'lights', 'speakers', 'pellet dispensers', 'pellet receptacles', 'automated guillotine door']
chamber_types
- two outer testing chambers and one middle start chamber
Behavioral Construct
- spatial cognition
- spatial learning
- spatial memory
- social cognition
- social interaction
- place navigation
- vertical navigation
- three-dimensional navigation
Automation Level
- semi-automated
Material
- Acrylic
Dimensions
- 90 cm x 50 cm x 60 cm
Research Domain
- Aging Research
- Behavioral Pharmacology
- Learning and Memory
- Neurodegeneration
- Neuroscience
- Social Behavior
Species
- Mouse
- Rat
Compatible Tracking Software
- ConductVision
Weight
- 6.06 kg
Dimensions
- L: 65.0 mm
- W: 36.0 mm
- H: 27.0 mm
| Feature | This Product | Typical Alternative | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spatial Navigation Dimension | Three-dimensional vertical navigation with 90 cm height range | Traditional mazes typically offer only horizontal two-dimensional navigation | Vertical navigation more closely approximates natural rodent behavior and activates different spatial memory circuits |
| Social Integration Capability | Integrated social demonstrator cage system at multiple height positions | Most spatial cognitive apparatus lack social interaction components | Enables simultaneous assessment of social and spatial cognition interactions in a single paradigm |
| Chamber Configuration | Three-chamber platform with two vertical columns | Standard mazes often use single chamber or linear track designs | Multiple chambers allow complex choice-based protocols and diverse spatial cognitive assessments |
| Flooring Options | Three configurable flooring types (wire grid, mesh, solid acrylic) | Most apparatus feature single fixed flooring material | Flexible sensory cue manipulation allows isolation of specific cognitive processes |
| Species Accommodation | Dedicated rat and mouse versions with optimized dimensions | Many systems use one-size-fits-all approach | Species-specific scaling ensures proper locomotion and navigation behavior for accurate cognitive assessment |
| Operant Integration | Optional automated levers, pellet dispensers, and stimulus presentation | Spatial and operant systems typically require separate apparatus | Combined spatial-operant capability enables assessment of motivation and decision-making in spatial contexts |
The 3D Vertical Maze provides unique three-dimensional spatial cognitive assessment capabilities with integrated social interaction components, offering more naturalistic behavioral paradigms than traditional horizontal maze systems. The modular design and multiple flooring options enable diverse experimental configurations while species-specific scaling ensures optimal performance across rodent models.
| Model | SKU | Listed price | Status | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rat | CS-958354 | $4,990.00 | Available | 90 x 50 x 60 cm |
| Mouse | CS-958354 | $3,990.00 | Available | 63 x 35 x 48 cm |
Practical Tips
Allow animals to acclimate to the vertical environment through brief exposure sessions before formal testing to reduce stress-related behavioral artifacts.
Why: Vertical navigation represents a novel experience that may initially elicit stress responses that could confound cognitive assessment.
Clean acrylic surfaces with non-abrasive cleaners and inspect for stress cracks after extensive use, particularly at connection points.
Why: Acrylic can develop stress fractures under repeated loading that may compromise structural integrity and create safety hazards.
Verify vertical column alignment using a plumb line or level before each experimental series to ensure consistent spatial relationships.
Why: Misaligned columns can create unintended spatial biases that affect navigation behavior and spatial learning assessment.
Record environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, lighting) as covariates, as these factors can influence vertical navigation behavior more than horizontal maze performance.
Why: Three-dimensional navigation may be more sensitive to environmental variables that affect animal comfort and motivation to explore vertically.
If animals avoid vertical movement, check for mechanical vibration or instability in the column assemblies that may deter exploration.
Why: Structural instability creates aversive conditions that prevent normal spatial exploration and confound cognitive assessment.
Ensure all vertical surfaces have appropriate texture or grip features to prevent falls during active navigation.
Why: Animal safety is paramount, and falls from height can cause injury and create lasting behavioral aversions to the apparatus.
Randomize social demonstrator placement and characteristics across test sessions to prevent confounding of spatial and social learning.
Why: Consistent social cues may lead to social rather than spatial learning strategies that do not reflect true spatial cognitive abilities.
Monitor for ceiling effects in spatial performance that may occur due to the enhanced ecological relevance of three-dimensional navigation.
Why: Animals may perform better in three-dimensional environments, potentially reducing the sensitivity to detect subtle cognitive differences between groups.
Setup Guide
What’s in the Box
- Three-chamber acrylic testing platform
- Two vertical column assemblies
- Perforated flooring inserts
- Solid acrylic flooring inserts
- Assembly hardware and fasteners
- User manual and protocol guidelines (typical)
- Optional operant conditioning components (if ordered)
Warranty
ConductScience provides a one-year manufacturer warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship, with comprehensive technical support for setup optimization and protocol development.
Compliance
How does the vertical design compare to traditional horizontal maze paradigms for spatial cognition assessment?
The vertical configuration more closely approximates natural three-dimensional navigation behavior in rodents, potentially activating different neural circuits and providing more ecologically relevant spatial cognitive assessment than horizontal-only paradigms.
Can the apparatus be used for both acute and chronic behavioral testing protocols?
Yes, the durable acrylic construction and modular design support both single-session experiments and longitudinal studies requiring repeated testing over extended periods.
What data parameters can be collected during testing sessions?
Standard measures include navigation latencies, spatial zone preferences, vertical movement patterns, social approach behaviors, and choice accuracy. Optional operant components enable collection of lever press responses and reward-seeking behaviors.
How are social cues standardized across experimental sessions?
Demonstrator cages are positioned at fixed height intervals (29.2 cm, 58.4 cm, and 87 cm) with standardized cage dimensions to ensure consistent social stimulus presentation across trials and subjects.
What maintenance requirements are needed for optimal performance?
Regular cleaning of acrylic surfaces with appropriate disinfectants, inspection of mechanical connections, and calibration of optional electronic components according to manufacturer specifications.
Can the flooring configuration be changed between experimental sessions?
Yes, the modular flooring system allows rapid reconfiguration between wire grid, mesh, and solid acrylic options to modify sensory cue availability without disassembling the main structure.
What video tracking systems are compatible with this apparatus?
The open design and contrasting acrylic surfaces are compatible with standard overhead and side-view video tracking systems used for automated behavioral analysis, though specific compatibility should be verified with tracking software requirements.
How does the system accommodate different experimental group sizes?
The apparatus is designed for individual animal testing, with throughput dependent on session duration and cleaning time between subjects. Multiple units can be operated simultaneously for higher throughput studies.
Have a question about this product?
Have a question? Just ask.
Send it over and we'll email you a personalized answer — no call, no scheduling.
Prefer to talk it through?
Accessories
Enhance your setup with compatible accessories
Frequently Bought Together
Creator Insights
About the Creator
The 3D Vertical Maze was introduced by Taylor B. Wise, Victoria L. Templer, and Rebecca D. Burwell in 2025. Burwell is the Albert D. Mead Professor at Brown University, whose lab has studied parahippocampal contributions to memory and spatial context for over two decades; Wise completed her doctoral work in the Burwell Lab and is now at Yale; Templer directs the neuroscience program at Providence College and studies rodent models of memory and learning. The apparatus is the first automated system to present conspecifics to rodents across multiple vertical distances and familiarity levels within one paradigm, enabling spatial and social cognition to be compared in the same animal. It was described in an open-access methods paper developed under NIH and NSF funding.
To view Taylor B. Wise’s publications, visit PubMed.
Are you Taylor B. Wise? to review your photo and bio, and find out how to submit Creator Insights.
ConductScience celebrates method creators — researchers who, through rigorous and often ingenious experiments, develop the tools that reveal how the brain and body work. These are real scientific discoveries that become everyday instruments for the labs that follow.
Foundational paper
- Wise, T. B., Templer, V. L., & Burwell, R. D. (2025). The 3D Vertical Maze: a new model system for studying the interactions between social and spatial cognition. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 418, 110414. doi:10.1016/j.jneumeth.2025.110414
