Cheeseboard Maze

Methodology Last checked Apr 3, 2026

Mar 2026 Verified All current specifications independently verified
Apr 2026 Spec 2 configuration options verified for availability and pricing
Mar 2026 Spec Verified application protocols for neuroscience, learning and memory, pain research research
Mar 2026 Review Comprehensive documentation verified u2014 setup guidance, specifications, and application notes
Mar 2026 Review Product imagery verified u2014 2 images with detailed views
Mar 2026 Spec Technical specifications verified u2014 Maze Shape, Total Wells, Well Pattern and 15 total parameters
Mar 2026 Verified Product specifications published and verified for Cheeseboard Maze

Circular elevated maze with 32 radial wells for spatial learning, working memory, and foraging behavior assessment in mice and rats.

Key Specifications

Size	Mouse, Rat
Automation Level	manual
Material	Acrylic
Compatible Species	Mouse, Rat
Display	None

SKU: CS-958409

Categories: Behavioral Mazes, Classic Mazes

by MazeEngineers

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The Cheeseboard Maze is a circular behavioral testing platform designed for assessing spatial learning, working memory, and foraging behavior in rodents. Constructed from grey painted acrylic with 32 strategically positioned wells arranged in a radial pattern, this elevated maze system provides a controlled environment for hippocampus-dependent learning paradigms. The circular platform features wells distributed between 20-60 cm from center (species-dependent), with each well capable of accommodating plastic bottle caps for reward delivery.

Available in mouse and rat configurations, the maze incorporates visual stimulus capabilities through flag-equipped caps for non-spatial testing protocols. The rear section remains well-free, serving as a habituation zone for experimental protocols. The elevated design (75-100 cm above floor) ensures proper behavioral responses while the radial well arrangement allows for complex spatial pattern learning assessments and reference memory evaluation.

How It Works

The Cheeseboard Maze operates on the principle of spatial reference memory and working memory assessment through foraging behavior. Animals must learn and remember the locations of baited wells among 32 possible positions arranged in a radial pattern. The task requires subjects to develop spatial maps using distal environmental cues while avoiding previously visited locations within a session (working memory) and remembering consistently baited locations across sessions (reference memory).

The circular design with radial well distribution creates a spatial learning environment similar to natural foraging contexts. Visual stimuli can be introduced through flag-equipped bottle caps for non-spatial control conditions, allowing researchers to dissociate spatial from non-spatial learning strategies. The elevated platform design encourages exploration while the well depth and diameter specifications ensure reliable reward detection and consumption.

Performance metrics include latency to find baited wells, number of errors (visits to unbaited wells), search strategy analysis, and path efficiency measures. The rear habituation zone allows for controlled introduction to the apparatus before testing begins.

Features & Benefits

32 radially distributed wells

Provides sufficient spatial complexity for robust assessment of working memory and reference memory capabilities

Species-specific dimensions

Optimized well diameter, depth, and platform size ensure appropriate scaling for mouse (3.1 cm wells) and rat (4.1 cm wells) behavioral responses

Elevated platform design

Encourages exploration behavior while providing clear spatial boundaries for consistent behavioral protocols

Flag-equipped visual stimulus caps

Enables non-spatial control conditions to distinguish between spatial and non-spatial learning strategies

Grey painted acrylic construction

Provides durable, easy-to-clean surface with neutral coloring that minimizes visual bias in spatial navigation

Bottle cap compatibility system

Allows standardized reward delivery and easy reconfiguration of baited well patterns between experimental sessions

Dedicated habituation zone

Rear well-free area enables controlled introduction to the apparatus, reducing stress-related confounds in spatial learning assessment

Maze Shape

Circular

Total Wells

Well Pattern

Radial

elevation

Elevated above floor

Rear Side Wells

None (used for habituation)

Visual Stimulus

Flag-equipped caps available

Bottle Cap Compatibility

Plastic bottle caps fit in wells

Behavioral Construct

Spatial Learning
Working Memory
Reference Memory
Foraging Behavior
Spatial Navigation

Automation Level

manual

Material

Acrylic

Color

Grey

Species

Mouse
Rat

Display Type

None

Research Domain

Aging Research
Behavioral Pharmacology
Learning and Memory
Neurodegeneration
Neuroscience

Weight

6.06 lbs

Dimensions

65.0 × 36.0 × 27.0 cm

Product Highlights

Feature	This Product	Category Context
Number of Choice Points	32 wells in radial arrangement	Traditional radial arm mazes typically offer 8-12 arms
Platform Design	Open circular platform with distributed wells	Maze designs often constrain movement to specific pathways
Visual Stimulus Integration	Flag-equipped caps for non-spatial control conditions	Many spatial mazes lack integrated cue-based control protocols
Species Configurations	Purpose-built mouse and rat versions with optimized scaling	Generic maze sizes often require adaptation for different species

The Cheeseboard Maze provides a comprehensive spatial learning assessment platform with 32 choice points, integrated visual stimulus capabilities, and species-specific optimization. The open-field design promotes naturalistic foraging behavior while maintaining experimental control for hippocampus-dependent learning protocols.

Applications & Use Cases

Neuroscience

Assessment of hippocampal function and spatial memory formation through foraging paradigms that require animals to remember well locations and develop efficient search strategies.

Behavioral Pharmacology

Evaluation of cognitive-enhancing or impairing drug effects on spatial working memory and reference memory using standardized well-baited protocols.

Learning and Memory

Investigation of spatial pattern learning and memory consolidation through repeated exposure to baited well configurations over multiple testing sessions.

Neurodegeneration

Longitudinal assessment of progressive cognitive decline in animal models of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions through spatial memory performance.

Aging Research

Characterization of age-related changes in spatial cognition and foraging efficiency by comparing performance across different age cohorts.

Practical Tips

Best Practices

Clean the platform thoroughly between subjects using 70% ethanol to eliminate olfactory cues that could influence spatial navigation.

Residual odor trails can provide unintended navigation cues that confound spatial learning assessment.

Calibration

Verify well depth measurements periodically and ensure bottle caps sit consistently flush with platform surface.

Inconsistent well depth or cap positioning can affect reward accessibility and introduce behavioral artifacts.

Maintenance

Inspect acrylic surface regularly for scratches or damage that could create unwanted visual landmarks.

Surface irregularities may provide proximal visual cues that interfere with distal cue-based spatial navigation.

Data Quality

Record multiple dependent variables including latency, errors, path efficiency, and search strategy to capture different aspects of spatial cognition.

Single measures may miss important cognitive changes and comprehensive analysis provides more robust behavioral characterization.

Troubleshooting

If animals show preference for specific well locations, rotate the platform orientation between sessions while maintaining distal cues.

Platform rotation helps distinguish between true spatial learning and potential response biases to local cues.

Safety

Ensure platform stability and check elevation support structure before each testing session.

Platform movement during testing can create aversive experiences that interfere with natural exploratory behavior.

Setup & Operation Guide

Unpack and Inspect

Remove the circular acrylic platform and support structure from packaging, inspecting for any damage to the grey painted surface or well integrity.
Platform Assembly

Assemble the elevation support system and secure the circular platform at the specified height (75 cm for mouse, 99.8 cm for rat configuration).
Well Preparation

Insert plastic bottle caps into designated wells according to your experimental protocol, ensuring caps sit flush with the platform surface.
Environmental Setup

Position the maze in a well-lit room with consistent distal visual cues that animals can use for spatial orientation and navigation.
Baiting Configuration

Place food rewards in designated wells according to your experimental design, using consistent reward types and quantities.
Video Recording Setup

Install overhead video recording equipment to track animal movement patterns and calculate performance metrics.
Habituation Protocol

Conduct initial habituation sessions using the rear well-free section before beginning formal testing protocols.

What's in the Box

Circular acrylic platform (grey painted)
Elevation support structure
32 plastic bottle caps
Flag-equipped stimulus caps for visual cues
Assembly hardware
User manual with protocol guidelines (typical)

Warranty & Support

ConductScience provides a one-year manufacturer warranty covering material defects and workmanship, with technical support for experimental protocol optimization.

Compliance & Standards

ARRIVE Guidelines Supports standardized reporting of spatial learning experiments through consistent apparatus specifications and behavioral outcome measures

IACUC Protocol Requirements Facilitates institutional animal care committee approval through well-established behavioral testing paradigms with defined endpoints

NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Commonly used in transgenic animal model characterization studies subject to NIH oversight requirements

Background Reading

The following papers provide general scientific background on measurement techniques relevant to this product category. They are not validation studies of this specific instrument.

[1] Herbert Schwegler et al. (1990). Hippocampal mossy fibers and radial-maze learning in the mouse: A correlation with spatial working memory but not with non-spatial reference memory. Neuroscience. DOI: 10.1016/0306-4522(90)90139-u

[2] Jennifer Alamed et al. (2006). Two-day radial-arm water maze learning and memory task; robust resolution of amyloid-related memory deficits in transgenic mice. Nature Protocols. DOI: 10.1038/nprot.2006.275

[3] 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

[4] 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

What is the optimal inter-trial interval for spatial working memory protocols?

Consult behavioral literature for species-specific recommendations, typically ranging from 30 seconds to several minutes depending on experimental design and memory retention requirements.

How do I distinguish between spatial and non-spatial learning strategies?

Use flag-equipped visual stimulus caps in control conditions and analyze search patterns - spatial learners show organized search strategies while non-spatial learners rely on visual cues or random searching.

What environmental cues should be present for optimal spatial learning?

Maintain consistent distal visual landmarks around the testing room while minimizing proximal cues on the maze itself to encourage hippocampus-dependent spatial navigation.

How many training sessions are typically required for acquisition?

Protocol-dependent, but most studies use 5-10 training sessions with multiple trials per session to establish stable baseline performance before experimental manipulation.

What food rewards work best for motivation without satiation?

Use small, highly palatable rewards like sucrose pellets or food crumbs, adjusting quantity based on body weight and maintaining 85-90% free-feeding weight for optimal motivation.

Can the maze be modified for different well configurations?

Yes, wells can be selectively baited or covered to create various spatial patterns, though the fixed 32-well radial arrangement provides the structural framework.