# Zone visits (entries and time spent)

What do you want to do?

▪Calculate the number of entries and time spent in specific zones

▪Calculate the number of entries and total time spent in two or more zones

▪Calculate the number of entries and time spent in an intersection of zones

▪Analyze the visits to target zones and errors

▪Find out which zone the subject visited first

▪Count the number of times that the subject was in a zone for more than N seconds

▪Calculate the time that the three body points were in a zone

Calculate the number of entries and time spent in specific zones

1.In the Analysis profile, under Location, click the button next to In zone. Specify the zones you are interested in. In the Trial Statistics tab, select Frequency (for zone entries) and Cumulative Duration (for time spent).

2.Click Statistics and Charts, then Calculate.

Calculate the number of entries and total time spent in two or more zones

If you want to group results for two or more zones, like the open arms of an Elevated plus maze:

1.In step 1 above, specify the zones you are interested in, and make sure that When in any of the selected zones is selected. In the Trial Statistics tab, select Frequency and Cumulative Duration.

2.Click Statistics and Charts, then Calculate.

Alternatively, in the Arena Settings make a Cumulative zone from the selected zones and calculate the frequency and cumulative duration in this zone.

Calculate the number of entries and time spent in an intersection of zones

When two zones are defined in different layers, it is possible to analyze their intersection. In this example, the intersection of the quadrant “North-West” and the annulus-shape “Maze border”.

1.In the Analysis profile, under Location, click the button next to In zone. Specify the zones you are interested in, and make sure that When in all selected zones is selected. In the Trial Statistics tab, select Frequency and Cumulative Duration.

2.Click Statistics and Charts, then Calculate.

Analyze the visits to target zones and errors

For example, in a Barnes maze test, calculate how many non-target holes were visited and the time to the first visit to the escape hole (target visit).

1. In the Analysis profile, specify the dependent variable Target visits and errors. Select the target zones and the non-target zones. In the Trial Statistics tab, select Total number and Latency to First.

note Latency is always calculated from the start of the track, even when you define time bins and nesting intervals.

2.Click Statistics and Charts, then Calculate.

Use the variable Target visits and errors also for a Radial-arm maze test.

Find out which zone the subject visited first

For example, in a dual choice test, in a T maze, leaf disc, or a Y-maze, etc.

1. In the Analysis profile, specify the dependent variable In zone. In the Trial Statistics tab, select Latency to first.

note Latency is always calculated from the start of the track, even when you define time bins and nesting intervals.

2.Click Statistics and Charts, then Calculate.

3.Under Export, click Statistics. In the exported file check which zone has a lower Latency value.

Count the number of times that the subject was in a zone for more than N seconds

1. In the Analysis profile, specify the dependent variable Free interval. Define an interval:

From. Dependent variable: In zone (specify the zone in the settings); Statistic: Current Duration > N seconds.

To. Dependent variable: In zone (specify the same zone); Statistic: Current; Value: When not in zone = true.

2.In the Trial Statistics tab, select Frequency.

3.Click Statistics and Charts, then Calculate.

If you want to calculate the actual duration of each of those visits, export the results table, then add N seconds to each result under Cumulative duration.

Calculate the time that the three body points were in a zone

With this solution, the animal is considered

▪in a zone only when all its body points are within the zone

▪out of the zone only when all its body points are outside the zone

example A Y-maze test, with arm zones A, B, C.

1.In the Arena Settings, define the main zones of interest.

2.In the Arena Settings, create additional zone groups, one for each main zone. In the example of a Y-maze, 3 zone groups. In each group, define a cumulative zone, including all zones but the focal zone. For example, “Other than A”, “Other than B”, etc. Each of these cumulative zones must be in separate zone groups. See Cumulative zones

3.In the Analysis profile, from each main zone A, B, C, define a Free Interval, which goes from In zone (Frequency > 0, for zone 1, with all three points) to In zone (Current = true, for “Other than zone 1”). Repeat this step to create more Free intervals.

4.Calculate the statistics or visualize the Free interval.