The cone test is a measure of goal directed behavior, even if spatial knowledge is imprecise.
It shows what percentage of the trial time the subject spent in a cone shaped area that starts from the first point of the path and broadens to include the area around the target platform, including beyond it.
It therefore captures cases where a subject heads approximately towards the target position, but may be imprecise – particularly in cases where the subject persists in searching the target area after just missing it on the first approach.
The percentage time within the cone is given in your results, and the cone itself is shaded on path plots to highlight navigation towards the immediate vicinity of the platform or learned position.
Understand the complete set of Morris water maze measures and analyses.