Barnes Maze

The Barnes maze is a well-known paradigm to study spatial learning and memory. This maze consists of a circular table with circular holes around the circumference. The goal is for the animal to reach the box that is positioned beneath one of the holes with the aid of visual cues. A food reward in the goal box can help the training process. In some experiments, the surface of the table is brightly lit, serving as an aversion stimulus that motivates the mouse or rat to find (and hide in) the goal box.