How to Test Smart Mice

Mice are a type of rodent that possesses highly-developed learning skills and problem-solving abilities. Mazes are commonly created for rodents to examine behavior and decision-making techniques. A mouse maze is a series of passages in which the mice must find their way from one end to the other. Designing a classic maze design at home can be done inexpensively, with only a few materials from the hardware store.

Things You'll Need

  • Graph paper
  • Pencil
  • Plywood
  • Circular saw
  • Wood glue
  • Nails
  • Hammer
  • Water sealant
  • Paintbrush
  • Wire mesh
  • Mouse reward
  • Timer
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Instructions

  1. Maze Design &Build

    • 1

      Draw the maze design to scale on a piece of graph paper. The real maze will be 3'x3' with 3-inch wide paths. Create a series of paths throughout the maze on the graph paper. The maze should be complex enough to challenge the mice. To create a scale on the graph paper, convert the real figures to graph boxes. For example, every 5 boxes on the graph paper can equal 1 foot. Therefore, each side of the box on the graph paper should be a total of 15 boxes.

    • 2

      Measure the plywood and draw a 3'x3' square with a pencil. Cut along the lines with a circular saw. This will be the base of your maze.

    • 3

      Draw 3-inch wide strips on the leftover sheet of plywood. Each strip should be 3 feet in length. Cut along the lines with a circular saw. These strips of plywood will be used to create the inner maze paths.

    • 4

      Glue four of the 3-foot strips of plywood to the 3'x3' base to create the outer walls of the maze. Allow the wood glue to dry overnight.

    • 5

      Flip the maze over and secure the outer walls of the maze with finishing nails. Hammer a nail in each corner of the outer walls to increase the stability of the maze. Flip the mice maze right-side up.

    • 6

      Draw the inside paths of the maze on the plywood base. The width of all the paths should be 3 inches. Cut the pre-cut 3-inch strips to match the inner wall drawings on the baseboard.

    • 7

      Attach the inner walls to the lines drawn on the base using wood glue. Secure the inner walls with finishing nails in the same manner as the outside walls. Additional plywood may need to be purchased for complex mazes.

    • 8

      Paint a layer of water sealant over the entire maze. This will protect the maze from rodent droppings, water or anything that is spilled on the maze. Allow the sealant to dry for a minimum of 48 hours.

    • 9

      Measure and cut a piece of wire mesh to fit the 3'x3' maze. Secure the wire mesh around the outer walls using finishing nails. This will prevent the mouse from escaping the maze. Leave a 3"x3" square open at the beginning and end of the maze to allow the mice to enter and leave.

    Testing Smart Mice

    • 10

      Place a reward for the mouse at the end of the maze. Good choices that will motivate the mouse include cheese or a cracker with a dab of peanut butter.

    • 11

      Set the mouse through the 3"x3" hole at the beginning of the maze. Once the mouse is planted on the ground, begin the timer.

    • 12

      Graph the amount of time it takes the mouse to complete the maze. Do not distract the mouse or nudge him in a certain direction. Graph how many mistakes the mouse makes along the way.

    • 13

      Repeat the test again once the mouse has reached the end of the maze. Continue to place the mouse at the beginning at the maze and see how long it takes to reach the end each time. Graph your results.

    • 14

      Create a bar graph or line graph to easily see your results. After multiple attempts, the mouse should be able to run the maze quicker and with fewer mistakes. This will test the mouse's memory and create a learning curve on the graph paper.