Elevated plus maze

Elevated Plus Maze

The Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) is a widely used behavioral test in neuroscience and pharmacology research, particularly in the study of anxiety and anxiolytic drugs. The EPM is a plus-shaped apparatus with two open arms and two enclosed arms, elevated above the ground. It exploits the natural aversion of rodents to open spaces to measure anxiety-like behavior.

Design[edit]

The EPM consists of a plus-shaped platform with two open arms and two enclosed arms, typically elevated 50-70 cm above the ground. The arms are usually 30-50 cm long and 5-10 cm wide. The enclosed arms have walls around 15-20 cm high. The maze is usually made of plastic or metal and is often colored black or white to contrast with the rodent's fur color.

Procedure[edit]

In a typical EPM test, a rodent is placed in the center of the maze facing one of the enclosed arms. The rodent is then allowed to explore the maze freely for a set period, usually 5-10 minutes. The rodent's behavior is recorded, either manually or using automated tracking software. The main measures of anxiety-like behavior are the proportion of time spent in the open arms and the number of entries into the open arms.

Interpretation[edit]

Rodents naturally prefer enclosed spaces, so spending more time in the open arms is interpreted as decreased anxiety-like behavior. Conversely, spending less time in the open arms is interpreted as increased anxiety-like behavior. The EPM is sensitive to both genetic and environmental factors that influence anxiety, as well as to the effects of anxiolytic and anxiogenic drugs.

Limitations[edit]

While the EPM is a widely used and validated measure of anxiety-like behavior, it has several limitations. These include the potential for confounding effects of locomotor activity and the one-trial nature of the test, which limits its ability to measure changes in anxiety over time.

References[edit]

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