Visual X Maze (ViS4M)
X-shaped four-arm maze with programmable LED illumination for visual discrimination learning and spatial memory assessment in mice and rats.
| arm_length | 45 cm |
| arm_width | 10 cm |
| arm_height | 15 cm |
| maze_design | X-shaped |
| number_of_arms | 4 |
| floor_plates | 4 transparent and 4 semi-transparent white |
Overview
The Visual X Maze (ViS4M) is a specialized four-arm maze apparatus designed for visual discrimination and spatial memory assessment in rodents. With its X-shaped design, it enables both color vision and contrast vision testing, serving as a translational model for studying Alzheimer's disease, aging, and visual impairment conditions.
The apparatus features independently controllable LED arrays in each arm (40 LEDs per arm) with red (~628 nm), green (~517 nm), blue (~452 nm), and white (~441 nm and 553 nm) wavelengths. Illuminance settings range from 6 lux to approximately 100 lux, allowing for graded visual stimuli presentation.
Key Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Dual Testing Modes | Color vision testing via LED illumination and contrast vision testing via object placement |
| Flexible Illuminance | Adjustable light intensity across 5 settings (low, medium, high, red-high, equal) |
| Quantitative Measures | Alternations, transitions, arm preferences, and time-in-zone metrics |
| Minimal Training | Uses spontaneous exploration behaviors — no pre-training required |
| Species Adaptable | Available in mouse and rat configurations with species-specific dimensions |
Training Protocol
Color Mode Task
- Insert floor plates, set LED illuminance to low
- Place rodent in center, allow 5-minute exploration
- Repeat across 5 days with increasing intensities (medium, high, red-high, equal)
Contrast Mode Task
- Insert transparent floor plates, place contrasting objects mid-arm
- Illuminate with red light, allow 5-minute exploration
- Conduct one trial before and after color mode tasks
Data Analysis Measures
- Time spent in each arm
- Number of arm entries
- Alternation rates between arms
- Transition patterns (arm-to-arm directional preferences)
Applications
- Study of visual impairments in aging and Alzheimer's disease models
- Assessment of color and contrast vision sensitivity
- Analysis of learning, memory, and working memory via spontaneous alternations
- Preclinical evaluation of pharmacological or genetic interventions targeting visual cognition
Specifications
Mouse Configuration
- Arm dimensions: 45 × 10 × 15 cm
- Floor plate gaps: 6 or 11 cm above base
- Central arena: 10 × 10 cm
Rat Configuration
- Arm dimensions: 58 × 13 × 19 cm
- Floor plate gaps: 7.2 or 14 cm above base
- Central arena: 13 × 13 cm
- Total arm span: 130 cm
Construction
- Black acrylic walls on glass/acrylic base
- Transparent ceilings with perforations
- Removable transparent and semi-transparent white floor plates
- LED strips (red, green, blue, white) with specific wavelengths
- Contrast objects: white, grey, black, transparent
- Optional shock bars for training
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- Minimal training required
- Flexible use for color or contrast modes
- Quantitative and reproducible
- Short test duration (5 min per trial)
Limitations
- Low exploratory drive may confound results
- Age, sex, and strain can influence performance
- Must be cleaned between trials to remove odor cues
Principal Investigator
Neil Veloso, Executive Director, Brown Technology Innovations
References
- Vit, J. P., Fuchs, D. T., Angel, A., Levy, A., Lamensdorf, I., Black, K., Koronyo, Y., & Koronyo-Hamaoui, M. (2021). Color and contrast vision in mouse models of aging and Alzheimer's disease using a novel visual-stimuli four-arm maze. Scientific Reports, 11, 1255. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-80988-0
- Vit, J., Fuchs, D., Angel, A., Levy, A., Lamensdorf, I., Black, K. L., Koronyo, Y., & Koronyo-Hamaoui, M. (2021). Visual-stimuli Four-arm Maze test to Assess Cognition and Vision in Mice. Bio-protocol, 11(22), e4234. https://doi.org/10.21769/BioProtoc.4234
How It Works
The Visual X Maze operates on the principle of visual discrimination learning, where rodents learn to associate specific visual stimuli with spatial locations or reward outcomes. The LED illumination system provides precise wavelength control, enabling researchers to present distinct visual cues that exploit rodent photoreceptor sensitivities and visual processing capabilities.
Each of the four arms contains an independent LED array with 40 individually controllable lights arranged in four rows. The wavelength-specific illumination (red ~628 nm, green ~517 nm, blue ~452 nm, white ~441-553 nm) allows for systematic investigation of color discrimination and visual attention. The modular floor plate system enables height adjustments to accommodate different species and modify task difficulty by altering visual angle and proximity to light sources.
The apparatus incorporates shock bar placement 7 cm inside each arm entrance, permitting aversive conditioning paradigms when combined with the visual stimuli. The dimmable low-voltage transformer system ensures consistent illuminance delivery across experimental sessions, with settings ranging from low-light conditions (6 lux) to bright illumination (~100 lux) for comprehensive visual threshold assessment.
Features & Benefits
arm_length
- 45 cm
arm_width
- 10 cm
arm_height
- 15 cm
maze_design
- X-shaped
number_of_arms
- 4
floor_plates
- 4 transparent and 4 semi-transparent white
ceiling_covers
- Transparent with perforations
led_configuration
- 40 small LEDs arranged in four rows per arm
light_wavelengths
- Red ~628 nm, Green ~517 nm, Blue ~452 nm, White ~441 nm and 553 nm
illuminance_settings
- Low: 6 lux, High: ~100 lux
illuminance_options
- Low, medium, high, red high, equal
shock_bar_placement
- 7 cm inside entrance of each arm
control_method
- Individual remote devices
transformer_type
- Dimmable low-voltage
Behavioral Construct
- Visual discrimination learning
- Spatial memory
- Cognitive flexibility
- Visual-spatial navigation
- Working memory
- Reference memory
- Learning acquisition
- Memory retention
Automation Level
- semi-automated
Material
- Acrylic
- Black acrylic
- glass
Color
- Black
- Transparent
- White
Power/Voltage
- Low voltage
Display Type
- LED
Research Domain
- Aging Research
- Behavioral Pharmacology
- Learning and Memory
- Neurodegeneration
- Neuroscience
- Toxicology
Species
- Mouse
- Rat
Weight
- 6.06 kg
Dimensions
- L: 65.0 mm
- W: 36.0 mm
- H: 27.0 mm
Comparison Guide
| Feature | This Product | Typical Alternative | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| LED wavelength control | Four specific wavelengths (628 nm red, 517 nm green, 452 nm blue, 441-553 nm white) with 40 LEDs per arm | Basic maze systems often use ambient room lighting or simple on/off illumination without wavelength specificity | Enables precise investigation of rodent photoreceptor responses and color discrimination capabilities for comprehensive visual processing studies. |
| Illuminance range and control | Adjustable from 6 lux to ~100 lux with individual arm control | Fixed lighting conditions or limited intensity adjustment options | Accommodates various experimental conditions from scotopic to photopic vision testing and individual animal threshold assessment. |
| Floor plate modularity | Insertable plates at two height options per species (6 cm or 11 cm for mice; 7.2 cm or 14 cm for rats) | Fixed floor height in most behavioral maze systems | Allows protocol customization for different experimental paradigms and task difficulty adjustment without requiring multiple apparatus. |
| Maze configuration | X-shaped four-arm design with 90-degree angles and integrated shock bar placement | Y-maze, T-maze, or radial arm configurations with varying complexity levels | Provides standardized spatial layout for established protocols while offering sufficient complexity for sophisticated behavioral paradigms. |
| Stimulus control system | Individual remote devices for independent arm control with dimmable low-voltage transformer | Manual switching or basic timer-controlled illumination systems | Enables complex stimulus patterns and counterbalanced experimental designs essential for rigorous behavioral neuroscience research. |
| Species accommodation | Separate mouse and rat configurations with species-specific dimensions | Single-size systems or adjustable mazes with compromised optimization | Provides optimal spatial proportions and stimulus presentation for each species' behavioral characteristics and visual capabilities. |
The ViS4M distinguishes itself through wavelength-specific LED control, modular height adjustment, and species-optimized configurations. The system provides precise visual stimulus delivery with illuminance control ranging from 6 lux to ~100 lux, individual arm operation, and integrated aversive conditioning capabilities for comprehensive visual-spatial learning studies.
Practical Tips
Measure actual illuminance at animal eye level using a calibrated photometer before each experimental series to account for LED aging and ensure consistent stimulus delivery.
Why: LED output can drift over time and ambient conditions may affect perceived brightness levels during behavioral testing.
Inspect LED arrays weekly for failed units and clean transparent surfaces with appropriate solvents to maintain uniform light distribution.
Why: Individual LED failure or surface contamination can create unintended spatial brightness gradients that influence animal behavior.
Acclimate animals to the maze environment with neutral illumination before introducing wavelength-specific stimuli to separate spatial from visual learning components.
Why: This approach isolates visual discrimination performance from general maze exploration anxiety and spatial novelty effects.
If animals show unexpected arm preferences, verify illuminance symmetry across all arms and check for reflective surfaces creating unintended light patterns.
Why: Subtle brightness differences or reflections can create inadvertent visual cues that confound experimental interpretation.
Record ambient room lighting conditions and maintain consistent experimental timing to control for circadian influences on rodent visual sensitivity.
Why: Rodent photoreceptor sensitivity varies with circadian phase and background adaptation state affecting behavioral responses.
Test shock bar output with a multimeter before each session if using aversive conditioning protocols and ensure proper electrical isolation from LED systems.
Why: Electrical safety verification prevents equipment damage and ensures consistent aversive stimulus delivery for conditioning paradigms.
Use counterbalanced stimulus presentations across animals and sessions to control for potential position preferences or learning carryover effects.
Why: This experimental design approach strengthens statistical analysis and reduces confounding variables in behavioral data interpretation.
Store floor plates and ceiling covers in dust-free conditions and inspect for scratches or damage that could affect light transmission properties.
Why: Optical clarity of maze components directly impacts stimulus presentation quality and experimental reproducibility.
Setup Guide
What’s in the Box
- Four maze arms with integrated LED arrays
- Central arena component
- Floor plate set (4 transparent, 4 semi-transparent white)
- Transparent perforated ceiling covers
- Individual remote control devices for each arm
- Dimmable low-voltage transformer system
- Shock bar components for aversive conditioning
- Assembly hardware and connection cables
- User manual with protocol examples (typical)
- Calibration documentation (typical)
Compliance
Warranty & ConductCare
ConductScience provides a standard one-year manufacturer warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship, with technical support for setup, calibration, and protocol development assistance.
What is the spectral output accuracy of the LED arrays and how stable is illuminance over extended testing sessions?
The LEDs provide wavelength-specific output at red (~628 nm), green (~517 nm), blue (~452 nm), and white (~441 nm and 553 nm). The dimmable low-voltage transformer system maintains consistent illuminance delivery, though specific spectral tolerance and long-term stability specifications should be confirmed in the product datasheet.
Can the system accommodate counterbalanced experimental designs with independent arm control?
Yes, individual remote control devices enable independent operation of each arm's LED array, allowing for complex stimulus presentations and counterbalanced protocols across multiple test sessions.
What are the optimal floor plate height settings for different behavioral paradigms?
Floor plates can be positioned at 6 cm or 11 cm above base for mice, and 7.2 cm or 14 cm for rats. Height selection affects visual angle and stimulus proximity, with higher positions typically used for visual acuity assessment and lower positions for discrimination learning.
How does the shock delivery system integrate with visual stimulus presentation for aversive conditioning?
Shock bars are positioned 7 cm inside each arm entrance, allowing for precise spatial association with visual cues. The timing and intensity of shock delivery relative to LED stimulation requires coordination through the control system.
What data output capabilities are available for automated behavioral scoring?
The current system focuses on stimulus delivery control. Integration with video tracking systems or automated scoring software for movement detection and choice recording should be verified with the manufacturer.
Can the illuminance levels be calibrated to specific photometric standards?
The system provides low (6 lux) to high (~100 lux) settings, but precise photometric calibration requires external light measurement equipment to verify actual illuminance values at animal eye level.
What maintenance is required for the LED arrays and how is LED failure detected?
The 40-LED configuration per arm provides redundancy for consistent illumination. Regular visual inspection and photometric verification help identify LED degradation, though specific maintenance intervals depend on usage intensity.
How does this system compare to traditional Y-maze or Morris water maze approaches for spatial memory assessment?
The ViS4M emphasizes visual discrimination learning with controlled lighting conditions, whereas Y-maze tests spontaneous alternation and Morris water maze assesses spatial navigation. The ViS4M is optimal for studies requiring precise visual stimulus control and wavelength-specific investigations.
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