Core/facility:
Comparative Pathology Research Core
Overview of behavioral tests in mice
| Test | Function tested |
|---|---|
| Open field test | Locomotor activity, anxiety and habituation |
| Rotarod | Motor coordination, balance, ataxia |
| Hindpaw footprint | Motor coordination, balance, ataxia |
| Acoustic startle and prepulse inhibition | Test of hearing as well as hippocampal function |
| Morris water task | Spatial learning |
| Acetic acid test, formalin test, hot plate test, foot shock test, tail flick test, tail pressure test | Pain tolerance |
| Contextual and cued fear conditioning | Memory skills, fear levels |
| Dark/light avoidance; passive/active avoidance test; elevated maze (plus or zero) | Anxiety |
| Direct observation or resident intruder tests – time taken to initiate first attack | Aggression |
| Forced swim test – increased time floating or not moving | Indication of behavioral despair |