# Important terms

Experiment

In EthoVision XT, the experiment is the container of all information related to an experimental setup. For example, you can create an experiment to collect data of a Morris water maze test, and another experiment for a Porsolt forced swim test.

Create an experiment from a template (recommended)

You can create an experiment with already predefined settings, for example a circular arena for a Morris water maze. You can create a template experiment in two ways: a) from one of the predefined templates or b) from one of your preexisting experiments.

▪Create an experiment from a predefined template

▪Create a new experiment based on an existing experiment

If none of the predefined templates applies to your experiment, create a experiment from scratch (see below).

Create an experiment from scratch

You can create a new experiment with no predefined settings. To do so, choose File > New. See Create a new experiment from scratch

DanioVision experiment

A special version of an experiment for tracking zebrafish larvae with DanioVision. For the procedure, see the DanioVision DVOC-0041 - Reference Manual. See Manuals

GLP experiment

This is a special version of an EthoVision XT experiment made for Quality Assurance. First, certain actions such as editing or deleting data can only be done by specific users. EthoVision XT logs all user actions which can result in changes to the acquired data, for instance altering settings. It is also possible to leave a comment in the log when a user leaves a part of the program.

▪EthoVision XT and Quality Assurance

Live Mouse Tracker experiment

This is a special version of an EthoVision XT experiment made for importing data from Live Mouse Tracker systems. In a Live Mouse Tracker experiment, some elements are not available, like the Track Editor and the Acquisition module. You cannot acquire data directly. Instead, import the Live Mouse Tracker databases into EthoVision XT. You do not need to draw the arena since that is already defined in the Live Mouse Tracker database. You analyze Live Mouse Tracker data just like any other EthoVision XT experiment. Note: EthoVision XT is based on Live Mouse Tracker version 1.0.3.

Trial

A trial is a single, uninterrupted data acquisition session. The trial starts when you either click the Start Trial button or press Ctrl+F5.

Track

A track is the actual data collected by EthoVision XT - a succession of 2D positions of each subject. At track include additional information such as the subject’s apparent size in pixels, and other information. The start of a track may or may not coincide with the start of the trial. This depends on your Trial Control Settings. In most cases, with the default Trial Control Settings, EthoVision XT waits one second after the subject has been detected in the arena. Therefore, depending on when the subjects is in view, the track begins some time after the moment that you click the Start trial button.

If you have multiple subjects or multiple arenas in the same video image, each subject produces one track within the trial.