What is the Barnes Maze?

The Barnes Maze is a validated, non-aversive alternative to the Morris Water Maze for assessing hippocampal-dependent spatial learning and memory in rodents. Originally developed by Carol Barnes in 1979, it exploits the natural motivation of rodents to escape a brightly lit, open, elevated platform by locating a dark escape chamber hidden beneath one of 20 equally spaced holes around the perimeter. Unlike the Morris Water Maze, the Barnes Maze does not require swimming, eliminates hypothermia risk, and produces minimal stress — making it particularly appropriate for aged animals, weak swimmers, and studies where stress hormones are primary endpoints.

Key Features

• 20 Equally Spaced Holes: The circular platform features 20 holes around its perimeter — one leading to the dark escape shelter, the remaining 19 covered with false shelter cups. Error counting and search strategy analysis are both derived from the hole-visit sequence.
• Magnetic Shelter Attachment: The escape shelter attaches magnetically to the underside of the platform, allowing rapid repositioning between trials for counterbalancing or reversal protocols without tools.
• Removable Access Ramp: A detachable ramp provides a gentle pathway for animals to reach the platform surface at the start of each trial, reducing handling stress associated with lifting or lowering.
• Anti-Glare, High-Contrast Surface: Non-reflective treatment of the grey platform surface ensures reliable video tracking without glare artifacts, enabling automated hole-visit counting and swim path analysis.
• Three Catalog Options: Cat. 40192 (rats, 130 cm diameter, 10 cm holes), Cat. 40193 (mice, 100 cm diameter, 5 cm holes), and Cat. 40196 (mice, randomized hole spacing — reducing intramaze cue potential).