Score percent marbles buried, group SEM, and CSV export for repetitive and anxiety-like behavior batteries.
Enter total marbles and the number scored as at least two-thirds buried at the end of the session. Group summaries report percent buried with SEM.
| Animal | Group | Total marbles | Buried | Session (min) | Buried % | Remove |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40.0% | ||||||
| 45.0% | ||||||
| 75.0% | ||||||
| 70.0% |
| Animal | Group | Buried | Total | Buried % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WT-1 | WT | 8 | 20 | 40.00 |
| WT-2 | WT | 9 | 20 | 45.00 |
| Model-1 | Model | 15 | 20 | 75.00 |
| Model-2 | Model | 14 | 20 | 70.00 |
When to use
Do not use for
Depth, material, and compaction can change burying counts. Treat bedding preparation as part of the apparatus.
The at least two-thirds buried rule is common, but the key is applying one written rule consistently.
Sedation or motor impairment can reduce burying. Pair drug experiments with open field or other activity measures.
Percent buried is calculated as buried marbles / total marbles x 100. Group summaries use animal-level or cage-level percentages and SEM. The scoring criterion should be defined before use, commonly at least two-thirds covered by bedding.
Last validated 2026-04-30. Calculations are designed for planning and documentation support; verify procurement decisions against manufacturer specifications or institutional SOPs.
ConductScience Marble Burying Scorer (v1.0). ConductScience, Inc. 2026. Available at: https://conductscience.com/tools/marble-burying-scorer
This tool performs descriptive calculations on user-entered marble burying scores. It does not replace protocol design, animal welfare oversight, or statistical analysis.
The marble burying assay places a fixed grid of marbles on bedding and counts how many are covered after a set period. It is simple to run and sensitive to bedding, strain, and drug effects.
The scorer calculates percent buried as buried marbles / total marbles x 100. Group summaries are calculated from animal-level percentages and reported as mean plus SEM.
Keep marble count, layout, bedding depth, cage size, lighting, session duration, and scoring criterion fixed across groups. Score cages blind to treatment when possible.
Cage setup for standardized bedding depth and marble layout
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