Mechanical Conflict Test
The Mechanical Conflict Test (MCT) is a behavioral neuroscience apparatus that evaluates pain-related decision making in rodents by creating a conflict between light avoidance and crossing mechanically challenging surfaces.
This system is essential for neuropathic pain research and mechanical hypersensitivity studies.
Louise Corscadden, PhD
Director of Science · ConductScience
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Key Specifications
Full details →- Model fit
- Mouse, Rat
- SKU family
- MCT-1L
- Sizing
- 43.2 x 15.0 x 27.9 cm
- Ordering
- Online checkout and quote request available
- Category
- Behavioral Mazes
- Build notes
- Confirm accessories, station layout, and support needs before purchase
Overview
The Mechanical Conflict Test (MCT) is a specialized behavioral neuroscience apparatus designed to evaluate pain-related decision making and nociceptive responses in rodents. This innovative system creates a controlled conflict scenario where animals must choose between remaining in an aversive brightly lit chamber or crossing a mechanically challenging surface with sharp probes to reach a preferred dark environment. The MCT is particularly valuable for studying neuropathic pain models and mechanical hypersensitivity, providing researchers with quantitative measures of pain avoidance behavior. The system ships as a single-lane apparatus and includes the Conduct MCT software for automated control and multi-endpoint behavioral scoring.
Key Features
The apparatus features dual 12 × 12 × 18 cm chambers connected by a 6 cm wide runway containing the critical probe section. The 15 cm probe plate contains approximately 1,000 stainless steel pins arranged in a high-density pattern (3 mm center-to-center spacing) that prevents animals from stepping between probes. This design ensures consistent mechanical stimulation across the testing surface. The system includes interchangeable probe plates offering variable protrusion heights from 0 to 5 mm, allowing researchers to adjust stimulus intensity based on experimental requirements.
Applications
The MCT serves as a comprehensive tool for pain research applications, including nociception evaluation, mechanical hypersensitivity testing, and allodynia assessment. Its primary strength lies in evaluating pain-related decision making processes, where animals must weigh the aversive nature of bright light against mechanical discomfort. This paradigm is particularly relevant for neuropathic pain models, where researchers can quantify changes in pain threshold and avoidance behavior following various interventions or treatments.
Species Compatibility
Optimized for both mouse and rat studies, the MCT accommodates the natural light-dark preference behaviors common to these species. The chamber dimensions and probe specifications are appropriately scaled for rodent locomotion patterns, ensuring reliable behavioral responses across different experimental models. The automated sensor detection system accurately tracks chamber entrances and exits, providing precise temporal measurements of conflict resolution behavior.
How It Works
Each trial pits two competing motivations against one another. The animal starts in a brightly lit start chamber — aversive to a rodent, which naturally prefers the dark — and can only reach the preferred dark chamber by crossing a floor studded with sharp probes. The animal must weigh the discomfort of the light against the mechanical discomfort of the probe field, so its choice reports the affective and motivational dimension of pain rather than a simple reflex.
Interchangeable plates raise the probes to a set height (0–5 mm). At 0 mm the floor is flat and neutral, establishing each animal's baseline light-avoidance; taller probes add graded mechanical challenge. Animals with mechanical hypersensitivity or allodynia hesitate longer at the probe edge, retreat more often, or refuse to cross — shifts that are sensitive to analgesic treatment in neuropathic and inflammatory pain models.
A typical run proceeds automatically: the animal is placed in the light chamber, the Conduct MCT software turns on the light and opens the door after a set delay, and infrared sensors time the animal from door-open through the runway into the dark chamber. Each trial ends when the animal crosses or the cutoff time elapses, and the software prompts the operator to reset for the next trial.
Features & Benefits
Species
- Mouse
- Rat
device_configurations
- Single lane — one control box and one Conduct MCT software instance drive multiple units
software_integrations
- Conduct MCT software (included); EthoVision and Neuralynx compatible; SMS and email integration
conductor_science_software
- Conduct MCT (included)
io_boxes_required
- No
Compatible Tracking Software
- ConductVision
Weight
- 10.0 kg
Dimensions
- L: 43.2 mm
- W: 15.0 mm
- H: 27.9 mm
Apparatus Dimensions
| Light (start) chamber | 12 × 12 × 18 cm |
| Dark (goal) chamber | 12 × 12 × 18 cm |
| Runway width | 6 cm |
| Probe section length | 15 cm |
| Probe plate lane width | 6 cm |
| Probe spacing | 3 mm center-to-center |
| Probe diameter | 0.5 mm |
| Interchangeable plate heights | 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 mm protrusion |
Probe Field & Plate Design
A 6 × 15 cm probe area at 3 mm spacing carries roughly 20 pins across × 50 pins along — about 1,000 stainless-steel probes. The dense array forms a near-continuous aversive surface so the animal cannot simply step between pins, keeping mechanical stimulation consistent across the crossing.
Each interchangeable plate is a machined base (acrylic, aluminum, Delrin, or stainless steel) carrying the pin array, with mounting holes for quick swaps and a flat underside for stable installation.
Automation
- Automated overhead light with software-set intensity (0–100)
- Infrared sensor detection of chamber entries and exits
- Motorized door with configurable open delay, open/close speed and travel distance
- USB (USB-to-RS232) connection to the Conduct MCT control box
Behavioral Measurements
The Conduct MCT software scores both the sensory and affective/motivational dimensions of pain across five endpoints:
| Escape latency (primary) | Time from door-open until the animal begins crossing the probe floor — the most sensitive and most commonly reported endpoint. Longer latency = greater aversion to the probes. |
| Crossing time | Time to traverse the probe section once movement begins; slower crossing can indicate cautious stepping. |
| Crossing success rate | Percentage of trials in which the animal crosses; severe pain models may show refusal to cross. |
| Number of refusals | Times the animal approaches the probe floor and retreats — a direct index of pain-avoidance conflict. |
| Time spent hesitating | Time at the edge of the probe section before committing to cross — a strong indicator of decision conflict. |
Configuration
The Mechanical Conflict Test is a single-lane apparatus — the standard configuration in the published literature. One control box and one Conduct MCT software instance can drive multiple single-lane units in parallel, so throughput scales without additional software licenses or I/O boxes.
Practical Tips
Run each animal on the 0 mm (flat) plate before adding probe height.
Why: Separates innate light-avoidance from mechanical sensitivity, so escape-latency changes can be attributed to the probes rather than to individual differences in light aversion.
Use escape latency (time from door-open to crossing) as the main outcome.
Why: It is the most sensitive and widely reported MCT measure in neuropathic pain studies; crossing time is less sensitive.
Start moderate (2–3 mm) for neuropathic models and reserve 4–5 mm for severe phenotypes or analgesic-efficacy studies.
Why: Matches stimulus intensity to the expected effect size and avoids floor/ceiling effects.
Track retreats and time-spent-hesitating at the probe edge alongside latency.
Why: These capture the decision-conflict component of pain that reflexive tests miss.
Set a fixed trial cutoff and record refusals (FailedToExit) rather than discarding them.
Why: Refusal to cross is itself informative in severe pain models and preserves the crossing-success-rate denominator.
Setup Guide
What’s in the Box
- Light chamber
- Dark chamber
- Probe plate with stainless-steel pins
- Interchangeable probe plates (0–5 mm heights)
- Automated light system
- Sensor detection system
- Conduct MCT control box
- USB-to-RS232 cable and UNITEK driver disc
- Conduct MCT software license
References
Background reading relevant to this product:
What probe heights are most appropriate for different pain models?
The interchangeable plates offer 0-5 mm protrusion options. Start with 0 mm for baseline measurements, then use 2-3 mm for moderate mechanical stimulation in neuropathic models. Higher protrusions (4-5 mm) may be needed for severe pain phenotypes or when assessing analgesic efficacy.
How does the high pin density affect experimental outcomes?
The approximately 1,000 pins with 3 mm center-to-center spacing prevent animals from avoiding mechanical stimulation by stepping between probes. This ensures consistent contact with the testing surface and improves data reliability compared to sparse probe arrangements.
What behavioral parameters does the MCT measure?
The sensor detection system tracks chamber entrances, exits, and time spent in each compartment. Key measurements include crossing latency, time in light vs. dark chambers, number of crossing attempts, and conflict resolution patterns over time.
How should I clean the apparatus between subjects?
The choice of construction materials (acrylic, aluminum, Delrin, or stainless steel) allows for appropriate cleaning protocols. Stainless steel components can withstand stronger disinfectants, while acrylic surfaces require gentler cleaning agents to prevent damage.
Is the MCT suitable for both acute and chronic pain studies?
Yes, the MCT is designed for both paradigms. For acute studies, use higher probe heights to elicit immediate avoidance. For chronic pain models, lower probe heights can detect hypersensitivity and allodynia that develop over time.
What is the recommended acclimation protocol?
Allow animals to explore the apparatus with 0 mm probe plates first to establish baseline preference patterns. This helps distinguish pain-induced changes from natural exploration behaviors and chamber preferences.
How does chamber size affect rodent behavior in the MCT?
The 12 × 12 × 18 cm chambers provide sufficient space for natural movement while maintaining the light-dark conflict. The dimensions are optimized for both mice and rats, ensuring appropriate scaling for different species sizes.
What software runs the apparatus and what does it record?
The included Conduct MCT application controls the light, motorized door and trial timing over USB (RS-232) and records per-trial escape latency, light-chamber duration, runway duration, retreat episodes (enter/exit runway times), crossing success and full activity logs. Results export to CSV.
Is the MCT single-lane or multi-lane?
The MCT is a single-lane apparatus — the standard configuration in the published literature. A single control box and one Conduct MCT software instance can drive multiple single-lane units in parallel, so you can scale throughput without additional software licenses.
Which parameters can I configure per protocol?
Trial cutoff time (0–600 s), number of trials (1–30), open-door delay, door open/close speed and travel distance, and light intensity (0–100).
Which outcome should I use as the primary endpoint?
Escape latency — the time from door-open to the animal crossing the probe floor — is the most sensitive and most commonly reported endpoint. Retreats and time spent hesitating add information about decision conflict; crossing time is less sensitive.
Is the Conduct MCT software included?
Yes — the Conduct MCT software is included with every system; the apparatus is not sold without it. The software controls the light, motorized door and trial timing over USB (RS-232) and records escape latency, retreats, crossing success, entry into the dark chamber and full activity logs, exporting to CSV.
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