Table 4.

Test that are commonly used to assess anxiety-related behaviors in rodents.

Behavioral paradigm	Description	Indication of anxiety-related behavior	Responsive to anxiolytic and/or anxiogenic agents	References
Open Field Test (OFT)	Rodent explores an open arena	Reduced time spent in center of arena; less exploratory locomotion	Yes	(141, 200, 418)
Elevated Plus Maze (EPM)	Rodent explores elevated platform that contains 2 open and 2 enclosed arms	Reduced time spent in open arms of maze; less exploratory behaviors	Yes	(106, 152, 154, 265, 397, 547)
Startle Reflex	Measures amplitude of the startle response to an unexpected stimulus	Increased amplitude of startle response	Yes	(88, 129, 187, 188, 210, 545)
Light-Dark Box	Rodent explores an apparatus that contains a well-lit and a dark compartment	Increased time spent in the dark compartment	Yes	(84, 117, 253)