In the landscape of behavioral neuroscience, the Light/Dark Box Test remains a cornerstone assay for assessing anxiety-like behaviors in rodents. Traditionally, researchers have relied on simple metrics such as total time spent in the light or number of crossings between compartments.
However, as experimental models grow increasingly sophisticated—and as cross-study reproducibility becomes more critical—standardized, percentage-based metrics like Dark Side Time Percentage are rising in importance.
At Conduct Science, we advocate for smarter, more comparable data practices. Measuring time spent in the dark compartment as a percentage of total trial duration creates a universal, easily interpretable gauge of anxiety-related behavior. It also enhances sensitivity in detecting subtle treatment effects or genetic phenotypes.
Each visit to the dark compartment is not random — it carries information about the subject’s anxiety state, risk assessment behavior, and exploratory motivation:
Thus, tallying the number of entries into the dark side goes beyond simple fear assessment—it reveals an animal’s decision-making under stress.
Our Light/Dark Box solution was engineered for both basic and advanced research needs:
Together, these features ensure reliable, reproducible, and publication-quality behavioral data.
Researchers tested the number of dark side entries in mice exposed to chronic stress, comparing untreated versus SSRI-treated groups.
| Group | Total Test Duration (s) | Avg. Time per Visit (s) | Total Time in Dark (s) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Control (No Stress) |
12.4 ± 1.2 |
25.1 ± 2.3 |
300.5 ± 12.6 |
|
Chronic Stress (CUMS) |
5.7 ± 0.9 |
48.7 ± 3.8 |
285.7 ± 11.5 |
|
CUMS + SSRI Treatment |
10.2 ± 1.0 |
27.3 ± 2.1 |
295.8 ± 10.7 |
Findings: The stressed group showed fewer dark-side visits with longer stays—consistent with elevated anxiety and impaired exploratory behavior. SSRI treatment restored visit frequency and normalized transition patterns, without dramatically changing total dark time.
Conclusion: Visit count was a more sensitive early indicator of treatment efficacy than overall time measures.
Visit frequency becomes especially valuable:
It provides a dynamic snapshot of how rodents balance fear vs. curiosity.
While time spent metrics offer a basic overview, the Number of Visits to the Dark Side unlocks a deeper understanding of anxiety-driven navigation, exploratory motivation, and decision-making under mild stress.
At Conduct Science, we equip researchers with the tools needed to move beyond single-dimensional analysis and towards comprehensive behavioral phenotyping.
Crawley, J. N. (1985). Exploratory behavior models of anxiety in mice. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 9(1), 37–44.
Bourin, M., & Hascoët, M. (2003). The mouse light/dark box test. European Journal of Pharmacology, 463(1-3), 55–65.
Kalueff, A. V., & Tuohimaa, P. (2005). The light/dark box test revisited: Not only an anxiety test. Behavioural Brain Research, 159(1), 55–66.
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Dr Louise Corscadden acts as Conduct Science’s Director of Science and Development and Academic Technology Transfer. Her background is in genetics, microbiology, neuroscience, and climate chemistry.
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