Primary Assay — Rat
Open Field Test
Rattus norvegicus
Same principle as mouse OFT but with larger arena (typically 100×100 cm). Rats produce richer behavioral repertoires including rearing, stretching, and more varied exploration patterns.
Quantitative Output
Measured Parameters
Every parameter is automatically tracked frame-by-frame in the ConductVision pipeline for Rattus norvegicus.
| Parameter | Unit | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Total distance | cm | Cumulative path length |
| Center time | % | Proportion in inner zone |
| Rearing (supported/unsupported) | count | Vertical exploration, wall-supported vs freestanding |
| Defecation | count | Fecal boli (emotional reactivity) |
| Grooming | bouts/s | Self-grooming events and duration |
References
Citations for Open Field Test
- Walsh RN, Cummins RA. (1976). The open-field test: a critical review. Psychol Bull, 83(3), 482-504. PMID: 17582919
- Prut L, Belzung C. (2003). The open field as a paradigm to measure the effects of drugs on anxiety-like behaviors. Eur J Pharmacol, 463(1-3), 3-33. PMID: 12600700
Compatible Equipment
Hardware for Rat Research
Open Field Maze (rat size)
OFT locomotion and anxiety
Elevated Plus Maze (rat)
Anxiety screening
Morris Water Maze (150-180 cm)
Spatial learning
Radial Arm Maze (8-arm)
Reference and working memory
Operant Conditioning Chamber
Reinforcement learning, addiction
Social Interaction Arena
Social behavior
Y-Maze (rat)
Spontaneous alternation
Passive Avoidance Chamber
Aversive memory
PPI Startle Chamber
Sensorimotor gating
Related Assays
Other Rat Primary Assays
03
Elevated Plus Maze
Rattus norvegicus
Larger version for rats (50 cm arm length). Rats show more robust open arm avoidance than mice, making this the preferre…
03
Morris Water Maze
Rattus norvegicus
Originally developed for rats (Morris, 1984). Larger pool (150-180 cm diameter). Rats are stronger swimmers and show mor…
03
Radial Arm Maze
Rattus norvegicus
Eight-arm maze radiating from a central platform. Separate assessment of reference memory (which arms are baited) and wo…
Run Open Field Test on ConductVision
Our team will configure the protocol, camera rig, and analysis pipeline for your rat facility.
