Fig. 2. Animal exploratory paradigms and translational human exploratory paradigms.

(A) A1 is pictorial representation of the elevated plus maze task in which rodents are placed on a center platform of a maze with two open arms and two enclosed arms. A2 is a pictorial representation of the light-dark box in which rodents are placed into a box divided into equal black/enclosed and white/glass compartments. A3 is a pictorial representation of the open field test in which the rodent is placed in an open field area to explore. A4 is a pictorial representation of the rodent behavioral pattern monitor (a type of activity chamber) consisting of a chamber with rearing touchplates on the walls and holes in the floors and walls to invite exploration.

(B) B1 is a figure reprinted from Kallai et al. (2007). Cognitive and affective aspects of thigmotaxis strategy in humans. Behavioral Neuroscience, 121(1). Investigators used both a computer-generated circular arena (not pictured) and a real arena maze, consisting of a large circular timber wall arena with eight navigation objects placed throughout. Participants goal is to find a target platform while wearing opaque swimming glasses. B2 is a figure reprinted with permission from Walz et al. (2016). A Human Open Field Test Reveals Thigmotaxis Related to Agoraphobic Fear frontal circuits gating human approacheavoidance behavior. Biological Psychiatry, 80(5). This task consists of a 166 m × 79 m unlined soccer field that participants are asked to walk on in any way they chose for 15 minutes. B3 is a human behavioral pattern monitor developed by one of the current authors (Young et al., 2007; Perry et al., 2009) in which participants are asked to wait for 15 minutes in a room (designed to appear as an “office in transition”), with objects placed around the room to invite exploration.