Morris Water Maze
Gold standard circular water maze for assessing spatial learning and memory in rodents through hippocampal-dependent navigation tasks.
| Automation Level | semi-automated |
| Species | Mouse, Rat |
| Dimensions | 1.3 m diameter x 1.3 m diameter x 0.6 m |
The Morris Water Maze is the gold standard behavioral apparatus for assessing spatial learning and memory in rodents. Originally developed by Richard Morris in 1984, this paradigm exploits the natural aversion of rodents to water and their innate swimming ability to evaluate hippocampal-dependent spatial navigation. The test involves placing animals in a circular pool filled with opaque water containing a hidden platform that provides escape from the water.
This apparatus features a 1.3-meter diameter circular pool with 0.6-meter walls, accommodating both mice and rats. The water level is maintained at 0.4 meters above the base, with the invisible platform positioned 1 cm below the surface at 0.39 meters height. The platform's silvery-white color ensures it remains concealed beneath the opaque water, while a visible black platform at 0.4 meters height serves for control trials and initial training phases.
How It Works
The Morris Water Maze operates on the principle that rodents possess an innate aversion to water and will actively seek an escape platform. During acquisition trials, animals are placed at various starting positions around the pool perimeter and must navigate to locate the hidden platform using distal visual cues positioned around the testing room. The opaque water prevents animals from seeing the platform directly, forcing reliance on spatial memory and cognitive mapping rather than local visual or olfactory cues.
The hippocampus constructs a cognitive map of the spatial environment through integration of visual landmarks, allowing animals to develop allocentric spatial representations. Performance is measured through latency to platform, path length, swimming speed, and search strategies. Probe trials, conducted with the platform removed, assess memory consolidation by measuring time spent in the target quadrant where the platform was previously located.
Multiple task variants can be implemented using the same apparatus, including reference memory tasks (fixed platform location), working memory protocols (changing platform positions), and reversal learning paradigms. The silvery-white invisible platform and black visible platform allow researchers to alternate between spatial memory testing and control conditions within the same experimental session.
Features & Benefits
water_height
- 0.4 m above base
visible_platform_height
- 0.4 m
invisible_platform_height
- 0.39 m
visible_platform_color
- black
invisible_platform_color
- silvery-white
water_opacity
- opaque (powder, paint, or milk added)
included_components
- hidden platform
customizations_available
- upon request
compatible_maze_configurations
- ['Water T-Maze', 'Water RAM', 'Water Y-Maze', 'Water Plus Maze']
Size
- Mouse
- Rat
- Intermediate
Color
- Black
- Blue
- White
Behavioral Construct
- spatial learning
- spatial memory
- reference memory
- working memory
- cognitive mapping
- spatial navigation
- place learning
- hippocampal function
Automation Level
- semi-automated
Species
- Mouse
- Rat
Dimensions
- 1.3 m diameter x 1.3 m diameter x 0.6 m
Research Domain
- Addiction Research
- Aging Research
- Behavioral Pharmacology
- Learning and Memory
- Neurodegeneration
- Neuroscience
Weight
- 30.0 kg
Dimensions
- L: 200.0 mm
- W: 200.0 mm
- H: 100.0 mm
Comparison Guide
| Feature | This Product | Typical Alternative | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pool Diameter | 1.3 meters | Entry-level models often range from 1.0-1.2 meters | Larger diameter provides more spatial area for complex navigation strategies and reduces wall-hugging behavior. |
| Platform System | Dual platforms (visible black, invisible silvery-white) | Basic models may include only one platform type | Enables within-session comparison of spatial versus sensorimotor performance without apparatus changes. |
| Wall Height | 0.6 meters | Standard models typically offer 0.4-0.5 meter walls | Higher walls prevent escape attempts while providing better overhead tracking visibility. |
| Species Compatibility | Optimized for both mouse and rat testing | Many models are species-specific | Single apparatus accommodates diverse research programs without requiring separate equipment purchases. |
| Configuration Flexibility | Compatible with T-Maze, RAM, Y-Maze, Plus Maze variants | Standard models are limited to basic circular configuration | Multiple paradigms possible with same base apparatus, expanding experimental capabilities. |
| Customization Options | Available upon request | Fixed configurations with limited modification options | Accommodates specific research requirements and novel experimental protocols. |
This Morris Water Maze provides comprehensive spatial learning assessment capabilities through its dual platform system, species-flexible design, and configuration versatility. The 1.3-meter diameter and 0.6-meter walls offer optimal dimensions for robust behavioral phenotyping across multiple experimental paradigms.
Practical Tips
Verify platform height daily using a ruler to ensure the invisible platform remains exactly 1 cm below water surface.
Why: Platform depth consistency is critical for standardized escape latencies and motivation levels.
Clean pool walls weekly with mild detergent to remove biofilm buildup that could provide tactile navigation cues.
Why: Wall cleanliness maintains reliance on distal visual cues rather than proximal tactile information.
Randomize starting positions across trials while maintaining equal representation of all quadrant entry points.
Why: Balanced start positions prevent development of response strategies that bypass spatial memory formation.
Record ambient room temperature and lighting conditions with each session to identify environmental variables affecting performance.
Why: Environmental consistency ensures that performance changes reflect experimental manipulations rather than testing conditions.
If animals show excessive floating behavior, reduce trial duration and increase inter-trial intervals to maintain motivation.
Why: Floating indicates learned helplessness that compromises spatial learning assessment.
Monitor animals continuously during trials and have towels readily available for immediate drying after platform location.
Why: Rapid drying prevents hypothermia and reduces stress that could influence subsequent trial performance.
Conduct probe trials at consistent time intervals after acquisition to standardize memory consolidation assessment.
Why: Timing consistency enables comparison of memory strength across different experimental groups.
Replace water opacity agents when platform becomes visible from any angle to maintain spatial memory requirements.
Why: Platform visibility compromises the cognitive demands of the task and invalidates spatial memory assessment.
Setup Guide
What’s in the Box
- 1.3-meter diameter circular pool
- Hidden platform (silvery-white)
- Visible platform (black)
- Assembly hardware
- User manual with standard protocols
- Platform positioning guide (typical)
Warranty
ConductScience provides a one-year manufacturer warranty covering materials and workmanship defects, with technical support for setup and protocol optimization.
Compliance
References
Background reading relevant to this product:
What is the Morris Water Maze?
The Morris Water Maze is a behavioral apparatus used to assess spatial learning and memory in rodents. Animals navigate a circular pool of opaque water to locate a hidden submerged platform, relying on external visual cues for orientation.
How does the Morris Water Maze work?
Rodents are placed in a water-filled circular pool where they must swim to find a hidden platform below the surface. Over repeated trials, researchers measure escape latency, path length, and swim patterns to quantify spatial memory acquisition and recall.
What research applications use the Morris Water Maze?
The Morris Water Maze is widely used in Alzheimer's disease research, drug screening for cognitive enhancers, and studies of hippocampal-dependent spatial memory. It is also applied in neurotoxicology and traumatic brain injury models.
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