What is the Nomura Forced Swim Test?

The Nomura Forced Swim Test (FST) is a high-throughput variant of the classic Porsolt FST specifically designed for mice. Unlike the Porsolt version, which scores immobility as the primary endpoint, the Nomura FST employs a water wheel that records escape-directed climbing and swimming behaviors as rotation events. This transforms a qualitative, observer-dependent measure into a quantitative, automated readout that captures active coping strategies with high temporal resolution. Its USB-based architecture allows up to 40 units to be monitored simultaneously from a single computer, making it ideal for large pharmacological screens.

Key Features

• Automated Wheel Rotation Scoring: A precision rotary encoder records clockwise and counter-clockwise wheel rotations in real time, converting escape-directed swimming into an objective, observer-independent measure.
• High-Throughput Capacity: USB connectivity allows a single PC to monitor up to 40 simultaneous Nomura FST units via a USB hub, enabling whole-cage drug screens in a single session.
• Water Temperature Feedback: An integrated temperature sensor provides continuous monitoring of water temperature — a critical variable that directly affects swim behaviour and immobility — ensuring reproducibility across sessions and labs.
• ANY-maze Integration: Fully compatible with the ANY-maze FST module (Cat. 60000-FST), which adds video tracking, zone analysis, and automated report generation to the rotation data.
• Compact, Durable Design: At 24 × 12 × 21 cm and 2.4 kg per unit, the Nomura FST is compact enough to operate within a standard isolation cubicle for controlled acoustic and lighting conditions.