This productGeneral purpose
Square Open Field Arena
40 x 40 cm mouse or 100 x 100 cm rat formats
Most common configuration for locomotor activity, anxiety-like behavior, habituation, and drug-screen controls.
$1,290
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Open Field Test
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Standard behavioral apparatus for measuring locomotor activity, exploratory behavior, and anxiety-like responses in rodents through analysis of movement patterns and zone preferences.
Key Specifications
| wall_types | opaque or clear |
| wall_feature | easily detachable for easy cleaning |
| floor_inserts | grid floor inserts available for video tracking |
| arena_shape | square |
| alternative_sizes | 27 x 27 cm and 50 x 50 cm sizes mentioned |
| wall_finishes | opaque colors and matte finish available |
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Louise Corscadden
PhD, Neuroscience
The Open Field Test is a standard behavioral assay used to assess locomotor activity, exploratory behavior, and anxiety-like responses in rodents. The apparatus consists of a square arena where animals are placed to freely explore while their movement patterns, zone preferences, and behavioral metrics are recorded. This test is fundamental to neuroscience and behavioral pharmacology research, providing quantitative measures of spontaneous locomotion, thigmotaxis (wall-seeking behavior), and center zone exploration.
The Open Field Test serves dual purposes in research protocols. When configured with clear walls, it effectively measures anxiety-like behaviors through analysis of center versus periphery time allocation. When equipped with opaque walls, it supports novel object recognition studies and general locomotor assessment. The apparatus accommodates both mouse and rat subjects with species-appropriate dimensions, featuring removable bases for efficient cleaning and optional grid floor inserts for enhanced video tracking compatibility.
How It Works
The Open Field Test operates on the principle that rodents exhibit measurable behavioral responses when placed in a novel, open environment. Animals naturally display thigmotaxis (preference for wall proximity) as an anxiety-related behavior, while exploration of the center zone indicates reduced anxiety or increased exploratory drive. The square arena design eliminates corner preferences that could confound behavioral measurements in alternative configurations.
Movement tracking relies on the contrast between the animal and the arena floor, with optional grid markings facilitating manual scoring or automated video analysis. Clear walls allow researchers to observe natural anxiety responses, as animals can see beyond the immediate testing environment. Opaque walls eliminate external visual cues, focusing attention on objects placed within the arena for recognition studies. The matte finish reduces reflective glare that could interfere with video tracking systems or alter animal behavior.
Features & Benefits
Removable base design
Enables rapid cleaning between subjects and easy maintenance without dismantling the entire apparatus.
Species-specific dimensions
Optimized arena sizes for mouse (40x40x30 cm) and rat (60x60x40 cm) provide appropriate spatial contexts for natural exploration behaviors.
Interchangeable wall types
Clear and opaque wall options support both anxiety assessment and novel object recognition protocols within the same apparatus.
Matte finish surfaces
Eliminates reflective glare that could interfere with video analysis or create visual artifacts affecting animal behavior.
Grid floor insert compatibility
Supports automated tracking systems by providing visual reference points for precise movement quantification.
70% ethanol compatibility
Withstands standard laboratory disinfection protocols without surface degradation or odor retention.
Detachable wall system
Facilitates thorough cleaning of all surfaces and allows compact storage when not in use.
wall_types
- opaque or clear
wall_feature
- easily detachable for easy cleaning
floor_inserts
- grid floor inserts available for video tracking
arena_shape
- square
alternative_sizes
- 27 x 27 cm and 50 x 50 cm sizes mentioned
wall_finishes
- opaque colors and matte finish available
floor_options
- with or without gridlines
center_marking
- square area in center may be outlined
recommended_wall_type_anxiety
- clear walls for anxiety measurements
recommended_wall_type_object_recognition
- opaque walls for novel object recognition
Size
- Mouse
- Rat
- XS
- Mouse (Set of 4)
- Rat (Set of 4)
- XS (Set of 4)
Behavioral Construct
- anxiety
- exploratory behavior
- locomotor activity
- thigmotaxis
- novelty response
Automation Level
- manual
Species
- Mouse
- Rat
Research Domain
- Aging Research
- Anxiety and Depression
- Behavioral Pharmacology
- Learning and Memory
- Motor Function
- Neuroscience
Weight
- 109.0 kg
Dimensions
- L: 88.9 mm
- W: 88.9 mm
- H: 40.0 mm
Comparison Guide
| Feature | This Product | Typical Alternative | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arena Dimensions | Species-optimized sizes: 40x40 cm (mouse), 60x60 cm (rat), 25x25 cm (XS) | Many alternatives offer fixed dimensions regardless of species | Proper sizing ensures natural exploration behaviors and appropriate center-periphery zone ratios for each species. |
| Wall Configuration | Interchangeable clear and opaque walls with detachable design | Fixed wall types require separate apparatus for different protocols | Single apparatus supports both anxiety assessment and novel object recognition studies. |
| Cleaning System | Removable base with 70% ethanol compatibility and odor-resistant materials | Integrated bases often require more complex cleaning procedures | Rapid turnaround between subjects minimizes olfactory contamination and experimental delays. |
| Multi-Chamber Option | XS model converts between single arena and four-chamber configuration | Separate apparatus required for individual versus group paradigms | Flexible testing configurations maximize experimental throughput and protocol versatility. |
| Surface Finish | Matte finish acrylic construction eliminates reflective glare | Standard acrylic often creates visual artifacts during recording | Improved video analysis quality and reduced visual stimuli that could confound behavioral responses. |
This Open Field Test apparatus offers species-specific sizing, interchangeable wall configurations, and modular design features that support multiple behavioral paradigms within a single system. The emphasis on cleaning efficiency and video-compatible surfaces addresses common practical challenges in high-throughput behavioral testing.
Neuroscience
Quantifying baseline locomotor activity and exploratory behavior in transgenic mouse models to characterize behavioral phenotypes associated with neurological conditions.
Behavioral Pharmacology
Screening anxiolytic and anxiogenic compounds by measuring changes in center zone exploration and thigmotactic behavior following drug administration.
Anxiety and Depression
Assessing anxiety-like behaviors through analysis of time spent in center versus peripheral zones and overall locomotor activity patterns.
Learning and Memory
Establishing baseline locomotor function before cognitive testing and measuring exploratory drive in novel object recognition paradigms.
Aging Research
Documenting age-related changes in spontaneous locomotion and exploratory motivation across different life stages in rodent models.
Motor Function
Evaluating gross motor coordination and ambulatory capacity following neurological interventions or in disease models.
Practical Tips
Best Practices
Maintain consistent ambient lighting conditions across all testing sessions to avoid confounding variables in exploratory behavior.
Why: Light level changes can significantly alter anxiety responses and locomotor activity patterns.
Maintenance
Inspect wall attachment points regularly and ensure secure connections before each testing session.
Why: Loose walls can create noise or movement that disrupts natural exploration behaviors.
Data Quality
Allow animals to acclimate to the testing room for at least 30 minutes before behavioral assessment.
Why: Transportation stress and novel environment exposure can temporarily alter baseline locomotor activity.
Calibration
Verify video tracking software calibration using known distance measurements on the grid floor insert.
Why: Accurate spatial calibration ensures reliable quantification of distance traveled and velocity measurements.
Troubleshooting
If animals show excessive corner-seeking behavior, check for external visual or auditory stimuli that may be increasing anxiety responses.
Why: Environmental distractors can override natural exploration patterns and confound behavioral measurements.
Safety
Ensure all acrylic edges are smooth and free from cracks that could injure animals during active exploration.
Why: Physical safety maintains animal welfare standards and prevents injury-related behavioral artifacts.
Best Practices
Randomize testing order and balance treatment groups across different times of day to control for circadian rhythm effects.
Why: Locomotor activity naturally varies with circadian phase, potentially confounding treatment comparisons.
Setup Guide
Arena Assembly
Assemble the acrylic walls onto the removable base, ensuring all joints are secure and the arena forms a complete square enclosure.
Wall Configuration
Select clear walls for anxiety assessment or opaque walls for novel object recognition studies based on your experimental protocol.
Floor Preparation
Install grid floor inserts if using video tracking analysis, or use the plain floor for manual observation and scoring.
Environmental Setup
Position the apparatus in a quiet testing room with consistent ambient lighting and minimal external visual cues.
Cleaning Protocol
Clean all surfaces with 70% ethanol between subjects to eliminate olfactory cues that could influence subsequent behavioral responses.
Recording System
Position video camera directly overhead to capture the entire arena floor for comprehensive movement analysis.
Subject Placement
Place the animal in the center of the arena or consistently in the same corner to begin each testing session.
What’s in the Box
- Open field arena with acrylic walls (size specific)
- Removable base platform
- Wall attachment hardware
- Grid floor insert (if specified)
- Separator dividers (XS model only)
- Cleaning protocol instructions (typical)
- User manual with setup guidelines (typical)
Warranty
ConductScience provides a standard one-year manufacturer warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship, with technical support for setup and protocol optimization.
Compliance
ARRIVE Guidelines 2.0Open field testing protocols commonly reference these guidelines for reporting animal research methodology and behavioral outcome measures.
NIH Guidelines for Animal ResearchBehavioral testing apparatus used in facilities subject to these guidelines for humane animal care and use in research.
AAALAC StandardsEquipment used in accredited research facilities following these standards for laboratory animal care and behavioral assessment.
References
Background reading relevant to this product:
1.L. Prut et al. (2003) “The open field as a paradigm to measure the effects of drugs on anxiety-like behaviors: a review” European Journal of Pharmacology doi:10.1016/s0014-2999(03)01272-x
2.M. Lamar Seibenhener et al. (2015) “Use of the Open Field Maze to Measure Locomotor and Anxiety-like Behavior in Mice” Journal of Visualized Experiments doi:10.3791/52434
3.Ann-Katrin Kraeuter et al. (2018) “The Open Field Test for Measuring Locomotor Activity and Anxiety-Like Behavior” Methods in molecular biology doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-8994-2_9
4.Natalia Kulesskaya et al. (2014) “Assessment of mouse anxiety-like behavior in the light–dark box and open-field arena: Role of equipment and procedure” Physiology & Behavior doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.05.006
Q
What is the Open Field Test?
A
The Open Field Test is a behavioral assay that measures locomotor activity, exploration, and anxiety-like behavior in rodents. Animals are placed in a square or circular arena and their movement is tracked over a set period.
Q
How does the Open Field Test work?
A
A rodent is placed in an open arena and its movement is recorded via video tracking. Metrics include total distance traveled, time in center versus periphery, rearing frequency, and velocity - providing a comprehensive locomotor and anxiety profile.
Q
What research applications use the Open Field Test?
A
The Open Field Test is used in psychopharmacology for drug screening, assessment of motor function in neurological disease models, and baseline activity profiling. It is essential in ADHD, Parkinson's, and general behavioral phenotyping studies.
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Upgrade Options
Use this apparatus with
The complete Open Field Test workflow
Track exploration
Automate center, wall, corner, distance, velocity, and immobility measures from overhead video.
ConductVision Open Field →Run protocol
Session setup, arena zones, illumination, habituation, and metric definitions for locomotion and anxiety screens.
ConductMaze Open Field Protocol →Analyze center ratio
Free calculator for center time, thigmotaxis, distance traveled, entries, and zone preference.
Open Field Analyzer →Choose your configuration
Validated Open Field Test configurations
Pick the apparatus configuration that matches the cohort, species, and protocol. Species-specific adaptations should be interpreted within their own validation literature.
BuyableMouse cohort
Mouse Open Field
Opaque walls, low-glare floor, overhead tracking compatible
Scaled arena for mouse center-periphery behavior and repeated activity monitoring.
$1,090
SpecialtyCircular arena
Circular Open Field
Round wall geometry for lower corner bias
Useful when the study design prioritizes continuous wall-distance analysis over corner-zone endpoints.
$1,390
§ 1
Introduction
The Open Field Test measures spontaneous locomotion and exploration in a novel arena. It is used as a baseline activity assay, an anxiety-like behavior screen based on center avoidance, and a control for interpreting other behavioral tasks. 1
The classic readout is the tradeoff between exploration of the exposed center and thigmotaxis near the walls. Because total distance, immobility, and velocity can shift for non-anxiety reasons, open-field interpretation depends on reporting both affective and locomotor endpoints. 1
Open field is often paired with EPM, light-dark box, rotarod, fear conditioning, or spatial learning assays so researchers can separate general activity from task-specific performance. 1
§ 2
Methods
2.1 Procedure
Single-session or repeated-session arena exploration, typically 5 to 30 minutes.
Pre-test setup
- 1.Arena zones — Define center, wall, corner, and full-arena zones before acquisition. Use the same center-zone dimensions for all animals.
- 2.Lighting — Set and record illumination at the arena center and corners. Keep lighting consistent across groups.
- 3.Cleaning — Clean floor and walls between animals, then allow odor and liquid residue to dissipate.
- 4.Camera — Calibrate the overhead camera to arena boundaries and confirm tracking contrast for the chosen floor and animal color.
Trial sequence
- 1.Place subject — Place the animal in the same start zone for all subjects, commonly the center or one fixed corner.
- 2.Record session — Record a fixed session duration. Five to ten minutes captures anxiety-like center avoidance; longer sessions support habituation curves.1
- 3.Return animal — Return the animal to the home cage and log grooming, freezing, jumping, or escape attempts.
- 4.Clean arena — Clean and dry the full arena before the next subject.
- 5.Counterbalance — Interleave groups through the same time window to avoid circadian and order effects.
Critical methodological constraints
- Activity confound. Center time falls when animals are sedated or hypoactive. Always interpret center ratio alongside distance and velocity.2
- Lighting sensitivity. Bright light increases wall preference. Report lux levels so center avoidance can be compared across labs.
- Arena geometry. Square arenas create corners that attract shelter-seeking behavior; circular arenas change the zone structure and should not be pooled with square data.
- Habituation. Repeated sessions change novelty drive. Analyze habituation separately instead of mixing first-exposure and repeat-exposure data.
2.2 Measurement & Analysis
Core open-field endpoints ConductVision scores from arena trajectories.
Center Time
Anxiety-like behavior
Time in the exposed center zone. Higher center time is usually interpreted as lower anxiety-like avoidance.1
Wall Time
Thigmotaxis
Time spent near the arena wall. Increased wall preference can reflect anxiety-like behavior or low exploration.
Total Distance
Locomotor control
Whole-session path length. Essential for separating anxiety-like changes from hypoactivity or hyperactivity.2
Center Entries
Exploration frequency
Number of center-zone transitions. Useful when center dwell time is skewed by freezing.
Velocity and Immobility
Activity state
Speed and immobility time identify sedation, freezing, or stimulant effects.
+ Additional metrics: corner time, rearing, grooming, path entropy, turn angle, zone transitions, and habituation slope.
2.3 center time ratio (analysis)
A normalized center preference endpoint for comparing animals with different activity levels.
§ 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 locomotion and anxiety-like behavior.
3.2 Sample apparatus output
Representative center-periphery and locomotor endpoints.
3.3 Recent findings (live PubMed feed)
- May 2026PMID: 41780614
Mechanistic insights into the antidepressant effects of the Angelica sinensis and Ligusticum chuanxiong Herb Pair: Involvement of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
Yang TY, Sun XM, Xiong ZW, et al.. J Ethnopharmacol. 2026 May 23.
The Angelica sinensis and Ligusticum chuanxiong Herb Pair (DC) serves as a core pairing in Traditional Chinese Medicine for treating blood stasis and blood deficiency syndromes, which are frequently associated with depressive-like symptoms in clinical practice.
- May 2026PMID: 41825795
miR-146a-3p drives major depressive disorder pathogenesis via BDNF suppression: a novel diagnostic and therapeutic target.
Sun K, Qin T, Kang Z. Gene. 2026 May 20.
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a debilitating neuropsychiatric condition characterized by persistent low mood, affecting approximately 322 million individuals worldwide. With a staggering 15% mortality rate due to suicide among patients, MDD represents a critical global health challenge.
- May 2026PMID: 41871823
Betahistine attenuates vestibular stimulation-induced mitochondrial damage and neuroinflammation in Deiters' neurons.
Zhuikova NS, Mikheeva IB, Antonova OY, et al.. Neurosci Lett. 2026 May 15.
Dysfunction of the vestibular nuclei, which can arise from various causes, is a common problem, affecting more than a third of people over 40. Its characteristic symptom is vestibular vertigo. This dysfunction is also associated with neurodegenerative diseases.
- May 2026PMID: 41825762
High-frequency rTMS mitigates acute sleep deprivation-induced anxiety-like behaviors and working memory impairments associated with hippocampal transcriptional modulation.
Sun Y, Rong Z, Maimaitiming D, et al.. Neuroscience. 2026 May 14.
Acute sleep deprivation is known to impair cognitive function and emotional regulation, yet effective interventions and underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear.
§ 4
Discussion
Limitations of the paradigm, methodological caveats, and current directions.
4.1 Common confounds
Variables that shift Open Field Test results independent of anxiety state.
Sedation and hyperactivity
Distance and velocity can change center time independent of anxiety-like behavior.2
Lighting
Illumination intensity strongly changes center avoidance and must be reported.
Arena cleaning
Residual odor changes exploration and wall preference. Keep cleaning and drying intervals consistent.
Prior handling
Handling, injection, and transport stress can shift center behavior before the session begins.
Repeated exposure
Habituation changes novelty-driven locomotion. First exposure and repeated exposure answer different questions.
4.2 Construct validity caveats
Open field is a broad screen, not a standalone anxiety diagnosis. Center avoidance can reflect anxiety-like behavior, low activity, visual impairment, freezing, or altered novelty seeking. 1 Strong designs pair center endpoints with locomotor controls and, when needed, another anxiety assay such as EPM or light-dark box. 2
4.3 Special considerations
Should I use center time or center entries?
Report both when possible. Center time captures dwell behavior, while entries capture approach frequency and can be less sensitive to one long center visit.
Can open field be repeated?
Yes, but repeated sessions measure habituation and activity adaptation. Do not pool repeat sessions with first-exposure anxiety-like behavior.
Does arena shape matter?
Yes. Square arenas introduce corner zones, while circular arenas emphasize wall distance. Treat shape as a protocol factor.
4.4 Current directions
Quarterly editorial review of emerging Open Field Test methodology. Q2 2026
Rising
Home-cage to open-field transitions
Studies increasingly compare home-cage baseline with novelty-evoked open-field behavior.
Methodological
Zone-free path features
Path entropy, turn angle, and wall-distance distributions supplement center-periphery scoring.
Rising
Disease-model baseline controls
Open field remains a standard control before memory, depression-like, and sensorimotor tasks.
Methodological
Automated behavior states
Pose-based scoring is adding rearing, grooming, freezing, and stretch-attend states to basic zone data.
§ 5
References
6 curated Open Field Test methods and validation papers. Schema-marked as ScholarlyArticle ItemList.
- Hall CS. Emotional behavior in the rat. I. Defecation and urination as measures of individual differences in emotionality. J Comp Psychol. 1934;18(3):385-403.
- Prut L, Belzung C. The open field as a paradigm to measure the effects of drugs on anxiety-like behaviors: a review. Eur J Pharmacol. 2003;463(1-3):3-33.
- Walsh RN, Cummins RA. The Open-Field Test: a critical review. Psychol Bull. 1976;83(3):482-504.
- Gould TD, Dao DT, Kovacsics CE. The open field test. Mood and Anxiety Related Phenotypes in Mice. 2009:1-20.
- Carola V, D'Olimpio F, Brunamonti E, Mangia F, Renzi P. Evaluation of the elevated plus-maze and open-field tests for the assessment of anxiety-related behaviour in inbred mice. Behav Brain Res. 2002;134(1-2):49-57.
- Seibenhener ML, Wooten MC. Use of the Open Field Maze to measure locomotor and anxiety-like behavior in mice. J Vis Exp. 2015;(96):e52434.
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