Summary: This article highlights the significance of proficient animal handling in Morris Water Maze experiments and offers suggestions for reducing stress and discomfort for the animals involved.
Proper animal handling is essential in Morris Water Maze experiments because stress and discomfort can negatively impact cognitive performance and skew results. Minimizing the stress and discomfort for animals during handling and testing is crucial for obtaining precise and dependable outcomes.

Various factors influence animal handling in MWM experiments, including the strain and sex of the animals, the handler’s experience, and the frequency of handling. Recent research has demonstrated that employing gentle handling techniques, such as cupping hands and moving slowly, can alleviate stress and anxiety in animals, leading to improved MWM performance.

Additionally, creating a comfortable and familiar environment for the animals can further reduce stress during handling and testing. For instance, using HVS Image technology to project visual cues onto the testing room walls can help animals orient themselves and feel more at ease in the testing setting.

In conclusion, efficient animal handling is vital for achieving accurate and reliable results in Morris Water Maze experiments. Researchers should ensure they minimize the stress and discomfort animals experience during handling and testing by using gentle handling methods and providing a comfortable, familiar testing environment.

References:
Spritzer, M. D., Ibler, E., & Inglis, W. L. (2011). Testosterone and social isolation influence adult neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of male rats. Neuroscience, 195, 180-190.
Hurst, J. L., West, R. S., & Barnard, C. J. (1990). Evaluation of the role of ultrasonic vocalizations during agonistic encounters between male laboratory mice. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 27(2-3), 211-225.