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Environment types

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Name
Description
Barnes mazeThe Barnes maze is a paradigm to study spatial learning and memory. It consists of a circular table with holes around the circumference.
Cheeseboard mazeA circular disk maze with drilled holes in the maze for hidden rewards
Circular trackA circular maze that only allows the animal to run in a circular fashion.
Elevated plus mazeThe elevated plus maze is a well-characterized behavioral paradigm, one of the most used tests for anxiety research
Elevated zero mazeThe elevated zero maze is very similar to the elevated plus maze, but lacks a center square. Gives an indication of anxiety versus exploration.
Figure eight mazeA figure-8 maze where the animal can run along a outer square shared track and further along a centerline as well, which connects the outer track.
Forced swim testThe forced swim test, also known as the behavioral despair test, is used to test for depression-like behavior in both mice and rats.
Head-fixed discAnimal is head-fixed and positioned on a horizontal freely moving disc. The animal can spin the disk.
HomecageThe homecage belonging to the animal.
Linear trackA simple linear track which only allows the animal to run back and forth along a linear trajectory.
Morris water mazeThe Morris water maze task is a popular and well-validated test for spatial learning: most-used behavioral test in neuroscience research
Open field environmentAn open field environment without walls typically raised above the floor.
OtherThis entry can be used temporarily when an option is missing allowing you to continue your work while an entry is being approved.
Radial arm mazeA simple homemade eight-arm radial arm maze with sidewalls to prevent interarm traverses The radial arm maze was designed by Olton and Samuelson in 1976 to measure spatial learning and memory in rats.[1] The original apparatus consists of eight equidistantly spaced arms, each about 4 feet long, and all radiating from a small circular central platform (later versions have used as few as three[2] and as many as 48 arms[3]). At the end of each arm there is a food site, the contents of which are not visible from the central platform.
Running wheelA running wheel. The wheel can have another simple environment connecting to the wheel.
SleepboxA sleepbox is a box, with sound and visual isolation from the outside surroundings. It isolates the animal from outside sound- and visual distractions. The animal will typically be located in its homecage inside the sleep box.
square_cageIt's like a home cage, but with fresh bedding and pellets to eat
Theta mazeA circular maze with a central arm going across the center of the circle.
T-mazeThe T-maze task is an investigation of spatial learning and memory. Subsequently, reversal learning or retention can be investigated.
Y-mazeThe Y-maze is, similar to the T-maze, a test to investigate spatial learning and memory. Specifically designed for testing rats or mice.

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Environment types

Environment types are fundamentally categories of setups and also serves as categories for behavioral paradigms. In BrainSTEM, environment types are a shared model across users. Behavioral paradigm are linked to a specific environment type, so that that paradigm is defined within that type of environment.

Submission process

Anyone can submit environment types or submit changes to existing ones, but all submissions must be approved before they are available for usage. Please see existing entries for examples as to what to submit.

Fields

  • Name: The name of the environment type (required; must be unique).
  • Description: A general description of the environment type.

Permissions

Once a entry has been approved it becomes available to everyone.

API Access

The API allows for programmable access, enabling you to read, edit, and delete entries through the API. For details about the fields and data structure, refer to the Environment type API endpoint documentation.