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Updated: Feb 1, 2026

Use of the Open Field Maze to Measure Locomotor and Anxiety-like Behavior in Mice
Published on: February 6, 2015
The Open Field Test for Measuring Locomotor Activity and Anxiety-Like Behavior
Ann-Katrin Kraeuter1,2, Paul C Guest3, Zoltán Sarnyai4,5
1Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroscience, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia.
Abstract:
The open field test is used in studies of the neurobiological basis of anxiety and screening for novel drug targets and anxiolytic compounds. This test uses a camera to measure movement of the test animal in the peripheral and central zones of a 42 × 42 × 42 cm polyvinyl chloride box. This chapter describes a protocol for carrying out the open-field test for assessment of locomotion and anxiety-like behavior in mice.
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