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Mouse hints

Mice: time on the platform and rescue

For a mouse, the best part of the trial may be you.

By Dr Roger J Morris (original text) and the watermaze.org editors · Updated

From the original watermaze.org (1998–2013)

Time On Platform & Rescue

A) Time on platform has to be sufficient for them to adjust to the feel & location, and to see where they are. However the prime reward is not to climb onto the platform, but to leap into your arms when you intervene to rescue them. So keep it to 10 seconds before you are seen or heard coming to the rescue.
B) And they do leap ! You need the pool to be sufficiently high-sided to stop them leaping out into the room. The high-side requirement is a major determinant of water level & location of cues.
C) Because rescue by you is the reward, you will never train them while you are detectable by sight or sound. The task has to clearly direct them first to the platform.

Original text: Dr Roger J Morris, 1998, with editor's notes by Richard Baker. Copyright (C) 1998 RJ Morris & HVS Image. Reproduced unchanged. Copyright Richard Baker© 2013. All Rights Reserved.

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