# Important terms in Arena Settings

Arena

An arena is the region in the video image on the screen in which a moving Subject is tracked by EthoVision XT. You can have one or more (up to 100) separate arenas in one screen. If you have multiple arenas, they must not overlap.

See also

▪Physical setup of an arena

Zone

A zone is a specific area of interest within an arena. For example, in a Morris water maze, define the hidden platform as a zone named Platform.

You can use a zone to calculate, for example, the time the animal spent in that zone, or the number of zone visits; you can also use a zone for starting and stopping data acquisition.

Point

A point is a dimensionless object that you can use as a reference. For example, an odor source that is the target of an insect. You can define the source as a point, to determine whether the animal is heading towards that spot.

Cumulative zone

A zone that combines two or more existing zones, so you analyze them as one. For example, the two open arms “Open arm 1” and “Open arm 2” of an Elevated plus maze can be analyzed as a Cumulative zone “Open arms”.

Hidden zone

A zone that you can use to calculate the time that the subject stays out of view, for example in a shelter.

Zone group

You can organize zones in zone groups. Within one zone group, zones must be non-overlapping.

See also

▪Organize the zones in your arena

▪Cumulative zones

▪Shelters and other hidden zones