Analysis and results

The Analyse screen turns your recorded trials into results. Open it with 'ANALYZE' near the bottom left of the Run screen of the maze you are using (ignore other buttons there); the heading and title bar name the maze, and each maze lists only its own SUM files. Trials (.hvs files) are listed on the left. Double-click a trial for its plot, then 'OK' for the summary analysis; 'Full Analysis' shows and saves everything. For batches, highlight trials, type a name in 'Name your Summary (SUM) file' and click 'Analyze Batch or Series', then use 'Export Results / Setup Custom' to export selected variables.

Going deeper

Before analysing, HVS recommends becoming familiar with the analyses and their purposes at hvsimage.com/morris-water-maze-analysis. VR water maze trials are analysed with the water maze workflow.

Double-click an individual trial name to view its plot, then OK to view the summary analysis. From the summary box, 'Full Analysis' shows and saves the full analysis for that trial, including all analyses you would see for a batch.

Going deeper

In the VR water maze only the platform position used for the trial is shown (ask HVS if you need data for other positions).

Highlight all trials to include, enter a name in 'Name your Summary (SUM) file', and press Enter or click 'Analyze Batch or Series'. Plots may flash by while trials are analysed. The .sum file holds all available data for the highlighted trials; then use 'Export Results / Setup Custom' to choose variables for export.

Going deeper

Keep .sum files: you can create further results files with different variable selections from them.

Files numbered 10000+ don't appear in the Morris Water Maze > 'ANALYZE' list, though they are normal .hvs files (Windows may show a browser icon). Keep fewer than 10,000 in …\Data\Morris Water Maze\HVS. Moving older files out also makes the list easier to scroll, as it shows oldest first. After an upgrade numbering restarts, so new trials may be near the top.

Going deeper

Clearing a data folder of very many .hvs files can also cure intermittent problems starting trials. Open .hvs files as text by right-clicking in the analysis list (Notepad++).

Suffixes: sc = seconds, mt = metres, mts = metres per second, % = percentage. Examples: LATENTsc latency; PATHISmt path; SPEEDmts average speed; QUAD1%sc time in quadrant 1; PASSTH00 passes through counter 0; TIMCT%00 % time in counter 0; PROXIMmt Gallagher global for the target and PROXmt00, 02, 04 for positions 0, 2, 4 (lower = closer); THGTIME% thigmotaxis time; BLOKLND1 % time in quadrant excluding the outer thigmotaxis band; KELLY_sc time to break away from the poolside beyond the radius set by KELLY_mt. To export only platform 1 measures, select items ending 01 and omit those ending 00. Current versions name export options descriptively.

Going deeper

%TIMECTR is an old column; newer versions use TIMCT%00..nn, one per calibrated position. Un-numbered QUAD_ columns from comma-separated import are artefacts. Deleting an Excel column shifts data, so check.

Slice plots omit start, heading and end markers. To remove the platform 00 label, change PLATX_00 and PLATY_00 to 0 in copies (Notepad++ in Helper Apps can search and replace across many), keep originals separately and always analyse with unadjusted originals.

Going deeper

Slices do not give heading angle or close encounter measures; latency and path are shorter and target quadrant % may be larger.

After the .sum file is made, click 'Export Results / Setup Custom', highlight the SUM file under 'Summary files' and click '2. Define'. Click each variable you want in the middle column; they appear on the right. Click 'Save'. Back on the previous screen, highlight the SUM file and click '3. Make Custom Results File'; the CST file appears in the 'Custom files' list.

Going deeper

The .sum file contains all available data; the CST is your selection, one line per trial and one column per variable. The program also has help text files 'Help for defining your custom results files.txt' and 'Help for Setup Custom - Exporting Results.txt' (the 'Help' button on the same screen).

CST files are comma-separated files for Excel and statistics packages; select comma if asked for the delimiter. For the water maze (including VR water maze trials) they are in C:\HVS Image 2027\Users\[username]\Data\Morris Water Maze\CST. You'll see a line per trial and a column per variable chosen with '2. Define' in 'Export Results / Setup Custom'.

Going deeper

For the circular mazes the output is named .cst.csv; for VR it is named .cst, and you can save a copy as .CSV or import it via Excel.

You can create additional results files with a different variable selection as long as you keep your .sum files (or remake them from .hvs files). You can create new .sum files with different sets of trials as long as you keep your .hvs files.

Going deeper

Treat .hvs and .BOND files as raw data and back them up; ask HVS about automatic back-ups.