The Y-maze is a simple experimental apparatus used in behavioral neuroscience to study spatial learning and memory, particularly in rodents. It consists of three identical arms, arranged at 120 degrees to each other, forming a “Y” shape.
Typically, researchers use the Y-maze to assess spontaneous alternation behavior. In this context, a rodent (such as a mouse or rat) is placed in the maze and allowed to move freely through its arms. It is a natural tendency for the rodent to enter a different arm rather than returning to a previously visited one, displaying a spontaneous alternation behavior. This tendency reflects the rodent’s innate curiosity to explore new environments and is used as a measure of spatial memory.
The Y-maze can also be adapted for other types of behavioral studies, including those that test anxiety, novelty-seeking, and reward-learning behaviors.
The Y Maze and T Maze are uniquely designed enclosures, shaped as ‘Y’ and ‘T’ respectively. They are used to study spatial memory and learning in rodents.
The subjects are allowed free movement to explore the maze over a specified duration, with their behavior tracked for further analysis.
Researchers examine the sequence of arm visits within the maze. Rodents typically display spontaneous alternation behavior, choosing to visit the least recently entered arm.
With BehaviorCloud, track and analyze the distance traveled and ambulatory time of your test subjects automatically.
Define each arm by drawing zones easily and analyze the sequence of zone entries.
BehaviorCloud performs spontaneous alternation calculations, saving you valuable time and effort.
BehaviorCloud’s Camera app, compatible with any mobile device, allows you to record and view your data in real-time. Control trials from an internet-connected computer or a second mobile device. Uploading existing videos for further analysis is also a breeze.
Drawing zones is easy and automatic with BehaviorCloud. Generate valuable data such as distance traveled, latency, velocity, and time spent in zones. Export your tracked videos and activity traces for publication.
Invite your colleagues to view or contribute to your experiments. They can assist in data collection, analysis, or monitor experiment progress. Set permissions for read-only, read/write, or admin access. With BehaviorCloud, you are always in control of your data.
BehaviorCloud is the world’s pioneering cloud-based platform for conducting high-throughput animal behavior research. It is compatible with off-the-shelf, consumer-grade Android and iOS devices. From recording and streaming experimental videos to performing video tracking analysis or manual behavior scoring, and even connecting your lab instruments - BehaviorCloud is revolutionizing the way animal behavior research is conducted.