This productMouse standard
92 cm Barnes Maze
92 cm platform, 20 holes, removable escape box
Standard mouse configuration for dry-land spatial learning and memory.
$2,490
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Classic Mazes
Barnes Maze
$2,490.00 - $2,690.00
Circular platform apparatus for hippocampal-dependent spatial reference memory assessment in mice and rats, utilizing natural aversion to open spaces and distal visual cues for navigation learning.
Key Specifications
finish
matted finish
top_design
removable top
rotation_capability
entire top and dark escape box rotate for customization
target_holes
includes 1 target box with option to add more holes
nesting_chamber
black nesting chamber with clear nest holder included
visual_cue_elimination
thick acrylic top eliminates visual cues
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Scientist guidance
Louise Corscadden, PhD
Neuroscience · ConductScience
Ask Louise about Barnes Maze fit, setup, configuration, or quote prep.
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The Barnes Maze is a circular platform behavioral apparatus designed for assessment of hippocampal-dependent spatial reference memory in rodents. The task exploits rodents' natural aversion to open, brightly lit spaces, motivating subjects to locate and enter a target escape hole using distal visual cues. Unlike water-based spatial memory tests, the Barnes Maze provides a dry testing environment that eliminates potential confounds from swimming stress or thermoregulatory demands.
Available in species-specific configurations for mice (92cm diameter, 5cm holes) and rats (122cm diameter, 10cm holes), the apparatus features 20 evenly distributed holes around the perimeter, with only one providing access to the escape chamber. The thick acrylic construction with matted finish eliminates visual cues from the maze surface itself, ensuring subjects rely on distal environmental landmarks for navigation. The removable top design and rotating capability allow for flexible experimental protocols and easy cleaning between subjects.
How It Works
The Barnes Maze operates on the principle of aversive motivation combined with hippocampal-dependent spatial memory. Rodents possess an innate aversion to open, brightly lit environments, creating natural motivation to escape the exposed platform surface. The apparatus exploits this ethological tendency by providing a single escape route among multiple false holes, requiring subjects to form a spatial map using distal visual cues in the testing environment.
During testing, subjects are placed in the center of the circular platform and must locate the target hole among 19 false holes. Successful task completion requires encoding the spatial relationship between the target location and external landmarks visible from the maze surface. The thick acrylic construction with matted finish eliminates local visual cues from the maze itself, ensuring navigation depends on distal environmental features processed by the hippocampus.
Learning is assessed through multiple measures including latency to locate the target hole, path length, search strategy employed, and errors made. The protocol typically involves training trials over several days followed by probe trials with the escape hole blocked to assess memory retention and spatial precision.
Features & Benefits
Species-specific sizing (92cm mouse, 122cm rat)
Optimized platform dimensions and hole sizes ensure appropriate spatial scale for reliable hippocampal-dependent memory assessment in each species
Removable top design with rotation capability
Enables flexible experimental protocols, easy cleaning between subjects, and randomization of start positions to prevent procedural learning
Thick acrylic construction with matted finish
Eliminates visual cues from the maze surface itself while providing durable, easy-to-clean testing platform that withstands repeated use
Black escape chamber with clear nest holder
Provides appealing dark refuge that motivates escape behavior while allowing visual confirmation of subject entry
20 evenly distributed holes per platform
Creates sufficient spatial complexity to challenge memory systems while maintaining standardized difficulty across studies
Adjustable stand height (95cm standard)
Elevates maze to exploit natural ground aversion while allowing height customization for different testing requirements
Optional false floor modification
Enables additional protocol variations and prevents subjects from using olfactory cues beneath the platform
Multiple color options (white, grey, clear, blue)
Allows selection of optimal contrast conditions for video tracking and accommodation of different lighting environments
finish
- matted finish
top_design
- removable top
rotation_capability
- entire top and dark escape box rotate for customization
target_holes
- includes 1 target box with option to add more holes
nesting_chamber
- black nesting chamber with clear nest holder included
visual_cue_elimination
- thick acrylic top eliminates visual cues
false_floor_available
- True
optogenetics_compatible
- True
Size
- Mouse
- Rat
Behavioral Construct
- spatial reference memory
- place learning
- hippocampal-dependent memory
- spatial navigation
- escape learning
Automation Level
- manual
Material
- Acrylic
Color
- Blue
- Clear
- Grey
- White
Species
- Mouse
- Rat
Research Domain
- Aging Research
- Behavioral Pharmacology
- Learning and Memory
- Neurodegeneration
- Neuroscience
Compatible Tracking Software
- ConductVision
Weight
- 14.3 kg
Dimensions
- L: 110.5 mm
- W: 78.7 mm
- H: 10.1 mm
| Feature | This Product | Typical Alternative | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform Material and Finish | Thick acrylic construction with matted finish to eliminate visual cues | Basic platforms may use thinner materials or glossy surfaces that create unwanted visual cues | Ensures subjects rely on distal environmental landmarks rather than local platform features for navigation |
| Hole Configuration | 20 evenly distributed holes with species-specific sizing (5cm mouse, 10cm rat) | Some models offer fewer holes or non-optimized hole sizes | Provides appropriate spatial complexity while maintaining species-appropriate accessibility |
| Rotation and Customization | Entire top and escape box rotate for experimental flexibility | Fixed designs without rotation capability | Enables reversal learning protocols and prevents development of procedural response strategies |
| Escape Chamber Design | Black chamber with clear nest holder for visual confirmation | Basic escape boxes without visualization features | Allows researchers to confirm subject entry while maintaining dark refuge appeal |
| Platform Modifications | Optional false floor modification available | Limited modification options in standard models | Prevents use of olfactory cues beneath platform for more rigorous spatial memory assessment |
| Color Options | Available in white, grey, clear, or blue | Limited color selection in many models | Enables optimization of contrast conditions for different lighting environments and tracking systems |
This Barnes Maze provides comprehensive features for rigorous spatial memory assessment including species-optimized sizing, rotation capability for protocol flexibility, and material construction designed to eliminate unwanted visual cues. The design supports both standard spatial reference memory testing and advanced protocols requiring apparatus modifications.
Neuroscience
Assessment of hippocampal function and spatial reference memory formation in studies of cognitive development, aging, and neurodegeneration.
Behavioral Pharmacology
Evaluation of drug effects on spatial learning and memory consolidation, including cognitive enhancers and memory-impairing compounds.
Learning and Memory
Investigation of place learning mechanisms and spatial memory encoding using hippocampal-dependent navigation paradigms.
Neurodegeneration
Characterization of spatial memory deficits in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, and other neurodegenerative conditions.
Aging Research
Documentation of age-related decline in spatial cognitive function and evaluation of interventions to preserve memory performance.
Anxiety and Depression
Assessment of cognitive symptoms in anxiety and depression models, as stress and mood disorders can impair hippocampal-dependent memory.
Practical Tips
Best Practices
Maintain consistent distal visual cues in the testing room throughout experiments and avoid moving or changing prominent environmental landmarks.
Why: Spatial memory performance depends on stable environmental reference points for accurate hippocampal mapping.
Maintenance
Clean platform surface with ethanol or appropriate disinfectant between subjects and allow complete drying before next trial.
Why: Eliminates olfactory cues that could guide subjects independently of spatial memory systems.
Calibration
Verify hole alignment and escape chamber positioning before each testing session using a measurement guide.
Why: Ensures consistent spatial relationships and prevents apparatus-related variability in performance measures.
Data Quality
Record ambient lighting conditions and maintain consistent illumination levels across all testing sessions.
Why: Lighting variations can affect escape motivation and visual cue detection, influencing performance reliability.
Troubleshooting
If subjects show reduced escape motivation, increase overhead lighting intensity or reduce environmental noise levels.
Why: Optimal aversive conditions are necessary to maintain motivation for spatial learning and memory expression.
Best Practices
Rotate the maze platform periodically while keeping the escape hole in the same spatial location relative to room cues.
Why: Prevents subjects from using local platform features or odor trails instead of spatial memory for navigation.
Safety
Ensure platform edges are smooth and stand stability is verified before placing subjects on the apparatus.
Why: Prevents injury from falls or sharp edges while maintaining appropriate height for escape motivation.
Setup Guide
Unpack and Inspect Components
Remove the circular platform, stand, escape chamber, and clear nest holder from packaging and verify all components are present and undamaged.
Assemble Platform and Stand
Mount the circular platform onto the adjustable stand at the desired height (typically 95cm) ensuring the surface is level and stable.
Position Escape Chamber
Install the black nesting chamber with clear nest holder beneath the designated target hole location on the platform underside.
Configure Testing Environment
Position the maze in a room with consistent distal visual cues and uniform lighting conditions overhead to provide motivation for escape behavior.
Establish Video Recording Setup
Mount camera system overhead to capture the entire maze surface for automated or manual tracking of subject movement patterns.
Clean and Prepare Surface
Clean the platform surface with appropriate disinfectant and allow to dry completely, ensuring no residual odor cues remain between subjects.
Validate Hole Configuration
Confirm all false holes are properly sealed and only the target hole provides access to the escape chamber.
What’s in the Box
- Circular platform (species-appropriate diameter)
- Adjustable stand with mounting hardware
- Black escape chamber
- Clear nest holder
- Installation and operation manual
- Cleaning and maintenance guidelines (typical)
Warranty
ConductScience provides a standard one-year manufacturer warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship, with technical support available for setup and protocol optimization.
Compliance
ARRIVE GuidelinesSupports standardized behavioral testing protocols recommended for transparent reporting of animal research methodologies
Guide for Care and Use of Laboratory AnimalsDesign accommodates principles of refinement by providing less stressful alternative to water-based spatial memory assessments
References
Background reading relevant to this product:
1.Kinga Gaweł et al. (2018) “Assessment of spatial learning and memory in the Barnes maze task in rodents—methodological consideration” Naunyn-Schmiedeberg s Archives of Pharmacology doi:10.1007/s00210-018-1589-y
2.Matthew W. Pitts (2018) “Barnes Maze Procedure for Spatial Learning and Memory in Mice” BIO-PROTOCOL doi:10.21769/bioprotoc.2744
3.Charles V. Vorhees et al. (2006) “Morris water maze: procedures for assessing spatial and related forms of learning and memory” Nature Protocols doi:10.1038/nprot.2006.116
4.Rudi D'Hooge et al. (2001) “Applications of the Morris water maze in the study of learning and memory” Brain Research Reviews doi:10.1016/s0165-0173(01)00067-4
Q
What is the Barnes Maze?
A
The Barnes Maze is a dry-land spatial memory test for rodents. Animals navigate a circular platform with holes around the perimeter to find a single escape box, using spatial cues for orientation.
Q
How does the Barnes Maze work?
A
Rodents are placed on a brightly lit circular platform with multiple holes. Only one hole leads to an escape box. Aversive stimuli (bright light, buzzer) motivate the animal to find the target hole. Latency, errors, and search strategy are measured.
Q
What research applications use the Barnes Maze?
A
The Barnes Maze is preferred when swim-stress confounds must be avoided. It is used in aging research, traumatic brain injury studies, and Alzheimer's disease models, offering a less stressful alternative to the Morris Water Maze.
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Upgrade Options
Use this apparatus with
The complete Barnes Maze workflow
Track search strategy
Automate hole investigation, primary latency, target-zone time, and serial versus spatial search strategies.
ConductVision Barnes Maze ->Run protocol
Acquisition, probe, reversal, escape-box, and aversive cue settings with metric definitions.
ConductMaze Barnes Protocol ->Calculate errors
Free calculator for primary errors, total errors, target-zone preference, and search accuracy.
Barnes Maze Error Calculator ->Configuration considerations
Common Barnes Maze setup decisions
Use these notes to scope species, cohort, tracking, and automation needs. Only verified product or support routes are linked from this section.
BuyableRat standard
122 cm Rat Barnes Maze
Larger platform, 20 holes, rat-sized escape box
Scaled platform for adult rats and studies requiring larger inter-hole spacing.
$2,990
Switch to Rat ->SpecialtyAutomation-ready
Barnes Maze with Tracking Kit
Platform, overhead camera mount, cue set, and software-ready zones
For laboratories standardizing automated primary latency, error, and strategy scoring.
$3,490
Configure tracking ->§ 1
Introduction
The Barnes Maze is a dry-land spatial learning task in which rodents learn the location of an escape box under one target hole on a circular platform. Barnes introduced the task to study age-related memory deficits while avoiding the swimming stress of water-maze testing. 1
The assay is commonly used when researchers want hippocampal-dependent spatial learning with lower hypothermia and swim-demand confounds than MWM. Acquisition measures learning across sessions, while probe trials test search bias after the escape box is removed or blocked. 1
Barnes Maze interpretation depends on search strategy. Serial hole checking can reduce latency without precise spatial memory, so primary errors, target-zone time, and strategy classification should be reported with escape latency. 1
§ 2
Methods
2.1 Procedure
Dry-land spatial acquisition with probe and optional reversal testing.
Pre-test setup
- 1.Cue placement — Place stable distal cues around the room and keep platform orientation fixed across trials.
- 2.Escape box — Attach the escape box under the target hole. Confirm non-target holes are blocked or have false bottoms as protocol requires.
- 3.Aversive motivation — Set bright light or mild auditory stimulus consistently and within approved welfare limits.
- 4.Tracking zones — Define each hole, target zone, quadrants, and platform perimeter before acquisition.
Trial sequence
- 1.Start trial — Place the animal in the center start cylinder, then lift the cylinder to begin search.
- 2.Find target — Allow the animal to locate and enter the escape box. Score maximum latency if it fails within the cutoff.1
- 3.Escape dwell — Allow a short dwell period in the escape box to reinforce target location.
- 4.Clean platform — Clean the platform and false holes between subjects to reduce odor trails.
- 5.Probe trial — Remove or block the escape box and record target-zone search bias.
Critical methodological constraints
- Search strategy. Latency alone is insufficient. Classify direct, serial, and random search strategies when possible.3
- Aversive cue level. Light and sound intensity affect motivation and stress. Report settings and keep them consistent.
- Odor trails. Incomplete cleaning can create non-spatial guidance to the target hole.
- Platform edge behavior. Jumping, freezing, or edge clinging can bias latency and should be logged separately.
2.2 Measurement & Analysis
Core Barnes Maze metrics ConductVision scores from platform trajectories and hole investigation.
Primary Latency
First target contact
Time to first investigate the target hole. Less affected by post-target wandering than total latency.2
Primary Errors
Spatial accuracy
Number of non-target holes investigated before the first target investigation.
Target-Zone Time
Probe memory
Time near the target hole during a probe trial after escape access is removed.
Search Strategy
Cognitive strategy
Direct, serial, and random strategies separate spatial search from procedural scanning.3
Path Length
Efficiency
Distance traveled before target hole investigation or escape-box entry.
+ Additional metrics: total errors, target crossings, quadrant occupancy, speed, immobility, hole-poke sequence, and reversal errors.
2.3 target search accuracy (analysis)
Target investigations divided by total hole investigations during a probe or fixed search interval.
§ 3
Results
Aggregate publication data, sample apparatus output, and recent findings from the live PubMed feed.
3.1 Publication trends
PubMed volume and co-occurring methods for dry-land spatial-learning studies.
3.2 Sample apparatus output
Representative acquisition and probe output from a Barnes Maze study.
3.3 Recent findings (live PubMed feed)
- May 2026PMID: 42004166
Astrocytic disruption and cognitive impairment following sub-acute fentanyl administration in male rats.
Dolatshahi S, Omran HS, Beirami A, et al.. 3 Biotech. 2026 May.
Fentanyl is a potent, fast-acting synthetic opioid that has played a major role in the opioid overdose crisis in the United States for over five decades, with opioid-related deaths increasing sharply in recent years.
- May 2026PMID: 41577115
Palmitoylethanolamide ameliorates postoperative cognitive dysfunction via microglial PPARα-mediated anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective mechanisms.
Zhang X, Wu W, Zheng Z, et al.. Exp Neurol. 2026 May.
Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a frequent neurological complication characterized by memory and learning impairments in the elderly, while effective pharmacological interventions remain limited.
- May 2026PMID: 41566034
Protopanaxatriol restores cognitive function in okadaic acid-treated mice via direct inhibition of pathological CDK5 activity.
Peng Y, Wang SS, Lai KD, et al.. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2026 May.
Alzheimer's disease (AD), a prevalent neurodegenerative dementia, presents therapeutic challenges due to safety concerns about amyloid-targeting strategies. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) may offer alternative avenues for exploration.
- May 2026PMID: 41084400
MiR-532-5p Attenuates Cognitive Deficits and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Subsequent to Polystyrene Microplastics.
Mohammadi L, Baluchnejadmojarad T, Goudarzi M, et al.. Environ Toxicol. 2026 May.
The increasing prevalence of microplastics pollution is a significant environmental challenge. However, the effects of these particles on learning and memory remain poorly understood.
§ 4
Discussion
Limitations of the paradigm, methodological caveats, and current directions.
4.1 Common confounds
Variables that shift Barnes Maze results independent of anxiety state.
Serial strategy
Animals can improve by checking adjacent holes serially rather than using distal spatial cues.3
Motivation level
Too little aversive motivation produces freezing; too much produces stress and escape behavior.
Odor guidance
Odor trails around the target hole can create non-spatial performance.
Visual cue salience
Weak or moved room cues reduce spatial learning and increase random search.
Motor impairment
Motor deficits can raise latency, so errors and search pattern should be interpreted with movement measures.
4.2 Construct validity caveats
Barnes Maze reduces swim-related confounds compared with MWM, but it is still motivation-dependent. 1 Search strategy, primary errors, and target-zone bias are needed to separate spatial memory from serial scanning or reduced movement. 2
4.3 Special considerations
How does Barnes compare with MWM?
Barnes avoids swimming and hypothermia concerns, while MWM often has stronger aversive motivation and a longer historical baseline. Use Barnes for frail, aged, injured, or longitudinal cohorts when dry-land testing is preferable. 1
Should I report primary or total errors?
Report both when possible. Primary errors reflect search before first target contact, while total errors include post-target wandering and may capture persistence or confusion.
Can Barnes Maze be repeated?
Yes, especially with reversal or shifted target locations, but prior learning and search strategy history must be modeled explicitly.
4.4 Current directions
Quarterly editorial review of emerging Barnes Maze methodology. Q2 2026
Emerging
Strategy-aware scoring
Automated direct, serial, and random strategy classifiers are becoming routine in Barnes analyses.
Methods
Probe-trial precision
Target-zone time and primary target visits are increasingly preferred over latency-only summaries.
Emerging
Aged and frail cohorts
Dry-land spatial testing is expanding in aging, stroke, and neurodegeneration studies where swimming is a confound.
Methods
Reversal learning
Target relocation is used to test cognitive flexibility after acquisition has stabilized.
§ 5
References
10 selected methods and validation references for Barnes Maze.
- Barnes CA. Memory deficits associated with senescence: a neurophysiological and behavioral study in the rat. J Comp Physiol Psychol. 1979;93(1):74-104. Find source
- Harrison FE, Hosseini AH, McDonald MP. Endogenous anxiety and stress responses in water maze and Barnes maze spatial memory tasks. Behav Brain Res. 2009;198(1):247-251. Find source
- Illouz T, Madar R, Clague C, Griffioen KJ, Louzoun Y, Okun E. Unbiased classification of spatial strategies in the Barnes maze. Bioinformatics. 2016;32(21):3314-3320. Find source
- Rosenfeld CS, Ferguson SA. Barnes maze testing strategies with small and large rodent models. J Vis Exp. 2014;(84):e51194. Find source
- Pompl PN, Mullan MJ, Bjugstad K, Arendash GW. Adaptation of the circular platform spatial memory task for mice: use in detecting cognitive impairment in the APP(SW) transgenic mouse model for Alzheimer disease. J Neurosci Methods. 1999;87(1):87-95. Find source
- O'Leary TP, Brown RE. Optimization of apparatus design and behavioral measures for the assessment of visuo-spatial learning and memory of mice on the Barnes maze. Learn Mem. 2013;20(2):85-96. Find source
- Patil SS, Sunyer B, Hoger H, Lubec G. Evaluation of spatial memory of C57BL/6J and CD1 mice in the Barnes maze, the multiple T-maze and in the Morris water maze. Behav Brain Res. 2009;198(1):58-68. Find source
- Sunyer B, Patil S, Hoger H, Lubec G. Barnes maze, a useful task to assess spatial reference memory in the mice. Nat Protoc Exchange. 2007. Find source
- Pitts MW. Barnes maze procedure for spatial learning and memory in mice. Bio Protoc. 2018;8(5):e2744. Find source
- Gawel K, Gibula E, Marszalek-Grabska M, Filarowska J, Kotlinska JH. Assessment of spatial learning and memory in the Barnes maze task in rodents: methodological considerations. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2019;392(1):1-18. Find source
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