Rondi Reig Star Maze

Overview

The Rondi Reig Star Maze is a behavioral research tool developed by Dr. Laure Rondi-Reig for studying spatial navigation in rodents. It combines elements of the Morris Water Maze and T-Maze to simultaneously analyze both allocentric (map-based) and egocentric (route-based) navigation strategies — an ability unique among spatial learning paradigms.

The apparatus features a five-arm star configuration with a central pentagonal ring and radiating alleys. The stainless steel star insert minimizes corrosion and fits within existing Morris Water Maze tanks (4 ft or 6 ft diameter), enabling researchers to run both classic Morris Water Maze and Star Maze tasks.

Key Features

Training Protocol

Pre-Training Phase

Rodents start from a fixed alley to locate a hidden escape platform in a designated alley. Water is made opaque with non-toxic agents (powdered milk).

Probe Tests

Starting points are shifted to determine navigation strategy preferences. Three strategy categories are assessed:

1. Allocentric (map-based): Relies on external room landmarks; tested with randomized starting points and visible distal cues
2. Sequential-guidance: Follows intra-maze cue sequences
3. Sequential-egocentric: Depends on body turn sequences; tested under black curtain to remove external cues

Behavioral Parameters

• Time spent mobile vs. freezing
• Latency to first head poke
• Number and total time of head pokes
• Behavioral shifts across days
• Mean number of alleys visited (memory impairment severity indicator)
• Navigation strategy selection (allocentric vs. egocentric)

Applications

• Spatial navigation strategy assessment (allocentric vs. egocentric)
• Hippocampal and cerebellar function research
• Pharmacological intervention testing
• Age-related cognitive decline modeling
• Knock-out mouse behavioral phenotyping
• Memory disorder research
• Developmental and strain-specific behavioral comparisons

Specifications

About the Inventor

Dr. Laure Rondi-Reig — Professor, Sorbonne University, Neuroscience Department. Head of the Cerebellum, Navigation and Memory (CeZaMe) Lab. After completing her studies in Biology and Neurosciences at Pierre and Marie Curie University (UPMC) in Paris, she earned her PhD focusing on the cerebellum role in motor and spatial learning, followed by postdoctoral training at MIT under S. Tonegawa.

Honors: CNRS Bronze Medal (2010), FRM Iagonitzer Prize (2012), SATT Lutech Innovation Prize (2019).

References

1. Rondi-Reig, L., et al. (2005). The Star Maze: a new paradigm to characterize multiple spatial navigation strategies. Behavior Research Methods.
2. Rondi-Reig, L., et al. (2006). Impaired sequential egocentric and allocentric memories in NMDA receptor KO mice during Star Maze task. Journal of Neuroscience, 26(15), 4071–4081.
3. Morris, R. (1984). Developments of a water-maze procedure for studying spatial learning in the rat. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 11(1), 47–60.
4. Packard, M. G., & McGaugh, J. L. (1996). Inactivation of hippocampus or caudate nucleus differentially affects place and response learning. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 65, 65–72.