Table 3.
Comparisons of open field parameters of socially isolated and group housed mice.
| Open field parameter | Housing condition | Mean | CI 95% Lower | CI 95% Upper | t/U value | p value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rearing (sec) | Social | 23.36 | 17.08 | 29.64 | 0.400 | 0.69 |
| Isolated | 22.06 | 18.67 | 25.45 | |||
| Rearing (count) | Social | 26.50 | 18.87 | 34.13 | 0.240 | 0.81 |
| Isolated | 27.60 | 20.61 | 34.59 | |||
| Grooming (sec) | Social | 12.58 | 8.28 | 16.88 | 0.749 | 0.46 |
| Isolated | 10.80 | 7.55 | 14.05 | |||
| Grooming (count) | Social | 15.50 | 11.28 | 19.72 | 0.665 | 0.51 |
| Isolated | 13.60 | 8.71 | 18.49 | |||
| Distance (m) | Social | 19.45 | 16.76 | 22.14 | 43 | 0.63 |
| Isolated | 17.91 | 14.09 | 21.73 | |||
| Mean speed (m/min) | Social | 0.06 | 0.05 | 0.07 | 44.50 | 0.69 |
| Isolated | 0.05 | 0.04 | 0.07 | |||
| Max speed (m/min) | Social | 0.20 | 0.18 | 0.22 | 49.50 | 0.98 |
| Isolated | 0.21 | 0.16 | 0.26 | |||
| Line crossing (count) | Social | 273.00 | 239.8 | 306.20 | 48.50 | 0.92 |
| Isolated | 259.50 | 208.4 | 310.60 | |||
| External zone time (sec) | Social | 224.60 | 213.00 | 236.20 | 2.150 | 0.04* |
| Isolated | 196.90 | 170.00 | 223.70 | |||
| External zone entries (count) | Social | 36.10 | 31.94 | 40.26 | 35 | 0.26 |
| Isolated | 39.50 | 31.51 | 47.49 | |||
| Intermediate zone time (sec) | Social | 64.00 | 55.25 | 72.75 | 2.230 | 0.03* |
| Isolated | 87.77 | 65.30 | 110.20 | |||
| Intermediate zone entries (count) | Social | 46.90 | 40.55 | 53.25 | 35.50 | 0.28 |
| Isolated | 52.20 | 40.42 | 63.98 | |||
| Centre time (sec) | Social | 11.37 | 7.89 | 14.85 | 1.168 | 0.25 |
| Isolated | 15.35 | 8.47 | 22.23 | |||
| Centre entries (count) | Social | 11.50 | 8.71 | 14.29 | 1.258 | 0.22 |
| Isolated | 14.60 | 9.76 | 19.43 |
Social isolation slightly modifies open field parameters, decreasing time in external and increasing time in intermediate zones. Unpaired t-student test or Mann-Whitney (for non-parametric data), n = 9–10/group, * p < 0.05.