Standard behavioral apparatus for measuring locomotor activity, exploratory behavior, and anxiety-like responses in rodents through analysis of movement patterns and zone preferences.
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Scientist guidance
Louise Corscadden, PhD
Director of Science · ConductScience
Ask Louise about Open Field Test fit, setup, configuration, or quote prep.
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.
Add-ons and modifications
Add-on
Size
Price
Details
Grid Lines
Mouse - 40x40cm to fit Rat - 60x60cm to fit
$150
Polypropylene
$200
Suitable for autoclaving (wet 121°C, 15PSI for 30 minutes). Prior to insertion of the open field, be sure to carefully clean the items with distilled water, as
Add any of these to your quote request.
Research identifiers
These IDs come from the Measurement Method Ontology (MMO) and the Clinical Measurement Ontology (CMO). Use them in data records and methods sections.
XS (Stroke): Large singular box can serve as large Open Field
XS (Stroke): Separator included dividing into 4 individual mouse/rat boxes
XS (Stroke): Acrylic
XS (Stroke): Easy clean with 70% Ethanol
XS (Stroke): Matte Finish for non-shine
XS (Stroke): No odors
Mouse (Set of 4): Total size: 80cm x 80cm
Mouse (Set of 4): With wall insert
Rat (Set of 4): Total size: 120cm x 120cm
Rat (Set of 4): With wall insert
XS (Stroke - Set of 4): Total size: 50 x 50cm
XS (Stroke - Set of 4): With wall insert
Shipping weight
109.0 lb
Shipping box
L: 88.9 cm
W: 88.9 cm
H: 40.0 cm
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.
Model
Size
SKU
Listed price
Status
Shipping box
Mouse
Length 40 cm · Width 40 cm · Height 30 cm
ME-3201-02-CLEAR (+5)
$650.00
Available
88.9 × 88.9 × 40.0 cm
Rat
Length 60 cm · Width 60 cm · Height 40 cm
ME-3201-03-CLEAR (+5)
$790.00
Available
88.9 × 88.9 × 40.0 cm
XS (Stroke)
Length 25 cm · Width 25 cm · Height 25 cm
ME-3201-04-CLEAR (+5)
$540.00
Available
88.9 × 88.9 × 40.0 cm
Mouse (Set of 4)
Height 30 cm
ME-3201-05-CLEAR (+4)
$2,190.00
Available
88.9 × 88.9 × 40.0 cm
Rat (Set of 4)
Height 40 cm
ME-3201-06-CLEAR (+4)
$2,890.00
Available
88.9 × 88.9 × 40.0 cm
XS (Stroke - Set of 4)
Height 25 cm
ME-3201-01-CLEAR (+4)
$1,790.00
Available
88.9 × 88.9 × 40.0 cm
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.
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 Pharmacologydoi: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 Experimentsdoi: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 biologydoi: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 & Behaviordoi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.05.006
Datasheet
Specifications, models, materials, and operating envelopes
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.
Have a question about this product?
Each paper below used this product. Under each title is the paper’s own sentence naming the equipment it used.
Andrea Verdugo-Meza, Jessica K. Josephson, Hansika Dadlani et al. · Preprint on bioRxiv · 2026
From the methods
Open field maze (OF) and novel object recognition (NOR) behavioural assessments were performed in this study using mazes from Maze Engineers (60077, Skokie, Illinois, USA).
Mice were placed in the center of a chamber measuring 40 cm (length) × 40 cm (width) × 40 cm (height) (Maze Engineers) and allowed to explore the chamber for 5 min freely (500 lx throughout the chamber).
Sydney M Bonauto, Kaya A Patel, Jennifer A Honeycutt · Behavioural Brain Research · 2025
From the methods
On testing day, a single animal was transported to the testing room in a clean transport cage and placed in the corner of a 100 × 100 cm × 40 cm open field (Maze Engineers, Skokie, IL).
Brittany Monte, Judianne Davis, Xiaoyue Zhu et al. · Cerebral Circulation - Cognition and Behavior · 2025
From the methods
A total of n = 11 CRHTRA1 and n = 13 WT rats aged to 12 M were used. The open field (Maze Engineers, Skokie, IL) measures 60 cm x 60 cm and is constructed with matte black acrylic floor and walls.
Sangbhin Lee, Young-Hwan Jo · Frontiers in Neural Circuits · 2025
From the methods
...were placed in the center of a chamber measured 40 cm (length) × 40 cm (width) × 40 cm (height) (Maze Engineers) and allowed to explore the chamber for 5 min freely (750 lux throughout the chamber).
Sushma Narayan, Kai Mao, Alberto R Williams-Medina et al. · Scientific Reports · 2025
From the methods
...in the corner of an evenly lit square arena (80 cm × 80 cm, 41 cm height) without visual cues (Maze Engineers; Skokie, IL), and average velocity, track length, activity level, and time spent in the central...
Haven Tillmon, Breeanne M. Soteros, Liang Shen et al. · Nature Communications · 2024
From the methods
TOR was conducted in an 80 × 80 × 30 cm white acrylic open field arena, with white opaque wall inserts separating the arena into (4) 40 × 40 × 30 cm height square chambers (Conduct Science).
Rafiad Islam, Jordon D White, Tanzil M Arefin et al. · Biology of Sex Differences · 2024
From the methods
Briefly, mice were allowed to explore a 40 × 40 cm arena (Maze Engineers, # 3201) illuminated at 60 l × for 5 min during which the distance traveled and the time spent in the inner 15 cm-area were measured using the EthoVision tracking system (XT 17, Noldus Information Technology).
Sarah A Lechner, Cynthia A Kelm-Nelson, Michelle R Ciucci · Behavioral Neuroscience · 2024
From the methods
An open-field arena (a square, empty arena, 60 cm × 60 cm surrounded by walls 40 cm in height, Maze Engineers, Illinois) was used to assess anxietylike behavior in this study (Seibenhener and Wooten, 2015).
Janise N Kuehner, Nevin R Walia, Rachel Seong et al. · G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics · 2023
From the methods
...toward an unfamiliar CD1 target animal. The arena was a white open field (40 × 40 cm height; Maze Engineers) maintained in complete darkness supplemented with red lamp lights.
Kathryn J. Bjornson, Amanda M. Vanderplow, Yezi Yang et al. · iScience · 2023
From the methods
...were allowed to explore four novel objects in a square open field box purchased from Maze Engineers (40cm long, 40cm wide, 30cm tall) for 7 minutes (mice not exposed to the novel objects were used...
Ming Li, Jing Zhang, Wendi Chen et al. · Journal of Neuroinflammation · 2023
From the methods
...field test consisted of 5 min trial in a white opaque arena of 45 cm × 45 cm × 30 cm in size (Maze Engineers, Boston, USA). The test arena was divided equally into nine square quadrants.
Sophia C. Noel, Liana Fortin-Hamel, Manjurul Haque et al. · Scientific Reports · 2022
From the methods
The OFT/OLT arena (Maze engineers, 412 Wilmette Ave, Glenview, IL 60025, USA) (80 × 80 × 30 cm) had four opaque plexiglass compartments (40 × 40 × 30 cm) that allowed us to test the four pups per litter at the same time (Fig. 6a).
Amanda M Vanderplow, Andrew L Eagle, Bailey A Kermath et al. · Neuron · 2021
From the methods
...plastic open field box with dimensions of 40cm wide, 40cm long, and a 30cm height was purchased (Maze Engineers), and the box surrounded by distal spatial cues.
The same license also scores standard tests such as the elevated plus maze, the Y-maze, the Morris water maze and the Barnes maze. Results export as CSV files.
CSCalvin S. HallIntroduced the open field test (1934)Western Reserve University (now Case Western Reserve University)
About the Creator
Calvin S. Hall was an American psychologist at Western Reserve University (now Case Western Reserve University), where he carried out foundational research on animal emotionality. His 1934 paper introduced the open field test, proposing that a rat’s defecation and urination in a novel arena provide a quantifiable measure of emotional reactivity. The paradigm became one of the first systematized assays of emotionality in rodents and established the open-arena template still used today to measure locomotion, thigmotaxis and anxiety-like behavior. Hall later became widely known for his content-analysis approach to the psychology of dreams.
To view Calvin S. Hall’s publications, visit PubMed.
Did you work with Calvin S. Hall? to suggest corrections or share material for these Creator Insights.
ConductScience celebrates method creators: researchers who, through rigorous and often ingenious experiments, develop the tools that reveal how the brain and body work. These are real scientific discoveries that become everyday instruments for the labs that follow.
Foundational paper
Hall, C. S. (1934). Emotional behavior in the rat. I. Defecation and urination as measures of individual differences in emotionality. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 18(3), 385–403. doi:10.1037/h0071444
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.
Formula: center time / (center time + periphery time) x 100. Interpret with total distance and velocity because low activity can reduce both center entries and center time. 1
§ 3
Results
3.1 Sample apparatus output
Representative center-periphery and locomotor endpoints.
Table 1 · Per-animal Open Field Test scoring output
Animal
Group
Center (s)
Periphery (s)
Distance (m)
Center ratio (%)
OF-001
Control
61
239
38.2
20.3%
OF-002
Control
55
245
36.7
18.3%
OF-003
Control
64
236
39.1
21.3%
OF-004
Anxiety-like
24
276
35.4
8.0%
OF-005
Anxiety-like
29
271
34.8
9.7%
OF-006
Anxiety-like
21
279
33.9
7.0%
Synthetic example for illustration only. Low center ratio should be interpreted with total distance and velocity.
§ 4
Discussion
Limitations of the paradigm, methodological caveats, and current directions.
4.1 Common confounds
Variables that can shift Open Field Test results apart from the effect under study.
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
Emerging
Home-cage to open-field transitions
Studies increasingly compare home-cage baseline with novelty-evoked open-field behavior.
Methods
Zone-free path features
Path entropy, turn angle, and wall-distance distributions supplement center-periphery scoring.
Emerging
Disease-model baseline controls
Open field remains a standard control before memory, depression-like, and sensorimotor tasks.
Methods
Automated behavior states
Pose-based scoring is adding rearing, grooming, freezing, and stretch-attend states to basic zone data.
§ 5
Background references
10 selected methods and validation studies of the Open Field Test, from any lab.
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.Find source
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.Find source
Walsh RN, Cummins RA. The Open-Field Test: a critical review. Psychol Bull. 1976;83(3):482-504.Find source
Gould TD, Dao DT, Kovacsics CE. The open field test. Mood and Anxiety Related Phenotypes in Mice. 2009:1-20.Find source
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.Find source
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.Find source
Denenberg VH. Open-field behavior in the rat: what does it mean? Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1969;159(3):852-859.Find source
Archer J. Tests for emotionality in rats and mice: a review. Anim Behav. 1973;21(2):205-235.Find source
Choleris E, Thomas AW, Kavaliers M, Prato FS. A detailed ethological analysis of the mouse open field test: effects of diazepam, chlordiazepoxide and an extremely low frequency pulsed magnetic field. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2001;25(3):235-260.Find source
Bailey KR, Crawley JN. Anxiety-related behaviors in mice. Methods of Behavior Analysis in Neuroscience. 2009.Find source
