Knowledge Base

Analysis With Zones

Find Out Which Zone the Subject Visited First

For example, in a dual choice test, in a T maze, leaf disc, or a Y-maze, etc.

1. In the Analysis profile, specify the dependent variable In Zone. In the Trial Statistics tab, select Latency to First.
2. Click Statistics and Charts, then Calculate.
3. Under Export, click Statistics. In the exported file check which zone has a lower Latency value.

Note: Latency is always calculated from the start of the track, even when you define time bins and nesting intervals.

Calculate Target Visits and Errors

1. In the Analysis profile, specify the dependent variable Target Visits and Errors. Select the target zones and the non-target zones. In the Trial Statistics tab, select Total Number and Latency to First.
2. Click Statistics and Charts, then Calculate.

Note: Latency is always calculated from the start of the track, even when you define time bins and nesting intervals.

Use the variable Target Visits and Errors also for a radial-arm maze test.

Count the Number of Times the Subject Was in a Zone for More Than N Seconds

1. In the Analysis profile, specify the dependent variable Free Interval. Define an interval:
   • From: Dependent variable: In Zone (specify the zone in the settings); Statistic: Current Duration > N seconds.
   • To: Dependent variable: In Zone (specify the same zone); Statistic: Current; Value: When Not in Zone = true.
2. In the Trial Statistics tab, select Frequency.
3. Click Statistics and Charts, then Calculate.

If you want to calculate the actual duration of each of those visits, export the results table, then add N seconds to each result under Cumulative Duration.

Calculate the Time That Three Body Points Were in a Zone

With this solution, the animal is considered:

• In a zone only when all its body points are within the zone.
• Out of the zone only when all its body points are outside the zone.

Example: A Y-maze test, with arm zones A, B, C.

1. In the Arena Settings, define the main zones of interest.
2. In the Arena Settings, create additional zone groups, one for each main zone. In the example of a Y-maze, create 3 zone groups. In each group, define a cumulative zone including all zones but the focal zone — for example, "Other Than A", "Other Than B", etc. Each of these cumulative zones must be in separate zone groups. See Cumulative Zones.
3. In the Analysis profile, from each main zone A, B, C, define a Free Interval which goes from In Zone (Frequency > 0, for zone 1, with all three points) to In Zone (Current = true, for "Other Than Zone 1"). Repeat this step to create more Free Intervals.
4. Calculate the statistics or visualize the Free Interval.