Bench checklists for every test

Small slips, such as a forgotten temperature check or a camera nudged out of place, are the commonest cause of lost data. A checklist by the pool catches them before they cost you a day.

Water maze checklist

Tick these off before your first trial and during each session; they catch most tracking problems before they cost you data.

Before the first trial

Camera plugged in before you start HVS Image.
Camera positioned so the pool surface almost fills the view; camera settings unchanged since calibration.
‘Barnes’ is NOT ticked.
Pool calibrated by clicking North (top), South (bottom), West (left), East (right), with every platform position you may use.
‘CHECK LIGHTING’ shows no white dots (shadow, on a white pool) or red spots (glare, on a dark pool).
Threshold set with an animal in the pool so the cross follows it everywhere.
Other programs closed and antivirus scans scheduled outside tracking times.
Remote or mouse clicks reliably once (a faulty or low-battery mouse can double-click).
Water depth, temperature and opacity: recorded and kept the same for every session.
Distal cue arrangement as for the rest of the study: checked from the animal's viewpoint before each session.

Every session

‘Max Seconds’ and the ‘Auto-end on platform’ option match your protocol.
Correct ‘Platform Number’ (a calibrated number) and start point, or the right TXP file selected.
After ‘PREPARE’, the real platform lines up with the on-screen indicator circle.
Click ‘RUN’ just as you release the animal, working from the south (bottom of screen) side.
Probe trials: learned platform number entered, ‘Probe’ ticked, ‘Auto-end on platform’ set to ‘No’.
Unwanted .hvs files moved out of the HVS folder; .hvs and .sum files backed up.

Barnes maze checklist

A quick run-through before and during each Barnes session, so the tracker follows the animal and not shadows or droppings.

Before the first trial

Maze cleaned so no faeces are present.
Table lit evenly so it looks close to white on screen; camera plugged in before starting HVS Image and positioned so the maze almost fills the view.
Barnes maze opened from its own button, with its ‘Barnes’ box ticked, before calibrating.
Maze calibrated by clicking the top, bottom, left and right extremes, in that order, and the actual holes present calibrated.
‘CHECK LIGHTING’ shows no shadow or glare.
Subject size set so the graticules enclose an area bigger than any faeces but slightly smaller than the animal.
Escape box and any aversive stimulus: recorded and kept the same for every session.

Every session

‘Max Seconds’, the ‘Auto-end on escape hole’ option and the target ‘Hole Number’ entered.
After ‘PREPARE’, the target hole lines up with the on-screen indicator circle.
Work from the south (bottom of the screen) side, with a small glass beaker as the start container and a white glove and sleeve.
If ‘Auto-end on escape hole’ is set to ‘No’, click ‘END’ as the animal fully enters the target hole.
When faeces appear, check they are ignored and increase the size if needed.
Probe day: learned target hole entered, ‘Probe’ ticked, ‘Auto-end on escape hole’ set to ‘No’.
.hvs and .sum files backed up.

Open field and object test checklist

Check the background, objects and tracking before you start, then keep each session consistent.

Before the first trial

Background white for dark or hooded animals, or black for white animals, including any space between arenas.
Objects a similar colour to the arena floor, or masked; placed so each object falls within one analysis grid cell.
Camera plugged in before starting the software; ‘2D-tracking mode’ showing unless you have a 3D licence.
Tracking area calibrated: height (top to bottom on screen) and width entered, top-left then bottom-right clicked.
Lighting exactly as for trials and an animal in each arena while you set ‘Set X-Y Threshold’ and ‘Set X-Y Size’.
Arena material, lighting level and cleaning between subjects: recorded and kept the same for every subject.

Every session

‘Max secs’ entered on the ‘Configuration’ tab and ‘Single Trial’ or ‘Series of Trials’ chosen.
Several arenas: subjects and descriptors entered in arena order, separated by pipes.
Object positions consistent between trials (mark the grid temporarily).
"Record" (older wording; your version may not show it) unticked when tracking from recorded videos.
.hvs files and any recorded frames backed up.

Multi-arm maze checklist (EPM, radial, T and Y mazes)

Make sure the outline, contrast and tracking are right before trials, so every arm entry is counted correctly.

Before the first trial

Background white for dark or hooded animals, or black for white animals; objects match the maze floor or are masked.
Camera plugged in before starting the software; ‘2D-tracking mode’ showing.
Maze calibrated by clicking the points in the small image in the order shown, right-clicking the final point, and the maze outline appears.
Your maze and ‘Single Field’ chosen on the ‘Maze Type’ tab; ‘Set X-Y Threshold’ set with an animal on the maze.
Maze height, arm lighting and cleaning between subjects: recorded and kept the same for every subject.

Every session

‘Max secs’ entered and ‘Single Trial’ or ‘Series of Trials’ chosen.
Trial details or the TXP file correct (first two columns blank, then subject and descriptor).
Remote or mouse clicks reliably once (a trial lasting 0.1 s points to a mouse that double-clicks).
.hvs files backed up; you can re-analyse with different Detection Areas at any time.

Forced swim checklist

Set the tracking band and background carefully once, then check the body (not the tail) is tracked each session.

Before the first trial

Background behind and around the containers white for dark or hooded animals, or black for white animals.
Three containers: in a row, as close together as possible, in the top third of the camera view.
Tracking area is a band around the water line, sized so climbing puts the highest point in the top third, swimming or floating in the middle third and diving in the bottom third.
‘Single Field’ for one container or ‘3x3 Fields’ for three in a row.
Water depth, temperature and container size: recorded and kept the same for every subject.

Every session

Cross follows each animal's body; if it jumps to the tail or water droplets, move ‘Set X-Y Size’ right.
‘Max secs’ entered; for three containers, each subject followed by six dummy names separated by pipes.
Three containers: after the session, exit HVS Image and move the .hvs files ending 4 to 9 to another folder (delete them only after a successful analysis).
"Record" (older wording; your version may not show it) unticked for recorded videos.

HVS 6D VR water maze checklist

Work through the connection steps in order and check safety before every participant; it gives you a stable, comfortable session.

Before the first trial

Your own safety procedures in place; participants advised not to drive or operate machinery straight after VR until they have readjusted.
Treadmill: both closure gate clips in place and locked, and all grub screws firmly tightened; cable plugged into the PC.
Headset boundary set and view recentred with the participant standing exactly where they will be during trials.
Link cable in the USB-C port on the graphics card, with Air Link turned off.
Connection steps done in order, waiting 30 seconds after ‘Prepare to Enable Link’, then ‘Start SteamVR’.
vrScript checked: SET_SCENE exactly matching a scene name, start points, target, trial type and cues; a copy kept in a separate folder.
Room, supervision and participant screening: agreed in your risk assessment and ethics approval.

Every session

Headset fitted and image made clear with the lens slider.
Treadmill users have practised the chosen movement, and the same motion type is used for all participants.
Participant has practised in the pre-trial location.
Participant asked to stop moving before you press Enter to start the trial.
Disrupted trial: press Escape, then Enter to re-run (labelled rerun).
.BOND, .hvs and .sum files backed up.

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