The most asked water maze questions

These are the questions that come up again and again, in the lab and in our inbox. Each one links to the full answer.

1. What size platform, and how deep below the surface?
2. Where should I put the distal cues, and why?
3. Why can platform crossings be misleading in probe trials?
4. How should I interpret high inactivity?
5. How do I interpret thigmotaxis, and how do I compare thigmotactic subjects fairly?
6. Which pool colour or dye should I use for my animals' coat colour?
7. How deep should the pool and the water be?
8. Where should I put the platform in the water maze?
9. Why should I run a cued (visible platform) trial?
10. What are the limitations of escape latency?
11. When is percentage time in the target quadrant a good measure?
12. Which mouse strain is best for the water maze or Barnes maze?

More questions? See the FAQ or search the site.