Publications using the MCSF
The Multivariate concentric square field™ (MCSF) test is a test developed at Uppsala University. It generates a behavioural profile, screening different behaviours such as exploration, risk-taking and shelter-seeking in a single test. The test is available for rats, mice and zebrafish, read more about its applications in the publications linked below.
Publications in mice
2020-
- Ekmark-Lewén S et al. (2023), Reduction of brain stem pathology and transient amelioration of early cognitive symptoms in transgenic mice treated with a monoclonal antibody against α-synuclein oligomers/protofibrils, Aging Brain
- Lindberg FA et al. (2022), Behavioral profiling of SLC38A10 knockout mice using the multivariate concentric square field(TM) test, Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
- Ferreyra E et al. (2020), Biparental care in C57BL/6J mice: Effects on adolescent behavior and alcohol consumption, Psychopharmacology
- Goodlett CR et al. (2020), Evaluation of the therapeutic potential of Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) via oral gavage in young adult Down syndrome mice, Scientific Reports
- Roper RJ et al. (2020), Behavioral phenotyping for Down syndrome in mice, Current Protocols in Mouse Biology
2010-2019
- Ekmark‐Lewén S et al. (2018), Early fine motor impairment and behavioral dysfunction in (Thy-1)-h[A30P] alpha-synuclein mice, Brain & Behavior
- Stringer M et al. (2017), Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) consumption in the Ts65Dn model of Down syndrome fails to improve behavioral deficits and is detrimental to skeletal phenotypes, Physiology & Behavior
- Ekmark‐Lewén S et al. (2016), Diffuse traumatic axonal injury in mice induces complex behavioural alterations that are normalized by neutralization of interleukin-1β, European Journal of Neuroscience
- Nordenankar K et al. (2015), Targeted deletion of Vglut2 expression in the embryonal telencephalon promotes an anxiolytic phenotype of the adult mouse, Upsala Journal of Medical Sciences
- Ekmark-Lewén S (2013), Traumatic axonal injury in the mouse is accompanied by a dynamic inflammatory response, astroglial reactivity and complex behavioral changes, Journal of Neuroinflammation
- Auclair Y et al. (2013), A selfish genetic element influencing longevity correlates with reactive behavioural traits in female house mice (Mus domesticus), PLoS ONE
- Birgner C et al. (2010), VGLUT2 in dopamine neurons is required for psychostimulant‐induced behavioral activation, PNAS
- Ekmark-Lewén S et al. (2010), The multivariate concentric square field test reveals behavioral profiles of risk taking, exploration, and cognitive impairment in mice subjected to traumatic brain injury, Journal of Neurotrauma
2004-2009
- Wallén‐Mackenzie Å et al. (2009), Restricted cortical and amygdaloid removal of vesicular glutamate transporter 2 in preadolescent mice impacts dopaminergic activity and neuronal circuitry of higher brain function, Journal of Neuroscience
- Marques JM et al. (2008), Evaluation of exploration and risk assessment in pre‐weaning mice using the novel cage test, Physiology & Behavior
- Augustsson H et al. (2005), Exploration and risk assessment in female wild house mice (Mus musculus musculus) and two laboratory strains, Physiology & Behavior
- Augustsson H & Meyerson BJ (2004), Exploration and risk assessment: a comparative study of male house mice (Mus musculus musculus) and two laboratory strains, Physiology & Behavior
Publications in rats
2020-
- Kagios C et al. (2025), Cafeteria diet and caloric restriction affect metabolic but not behavioral characteristics in male Wistar rats, Physiology & Behavior
- Zelleroth S et al. (2024), The decanoate esters of nandrolone, testosterone, and trenbolone induce steroid specific memory impairment and somatic effects in the male rat, Hormones & Behavior
- Florén Lind S et al. (2023), Acute caffeine differently affects risk-taking and the expression of BDNF and of adenosine and opioid receptors in rats with high or low anxiety-like behavior, Pharmacology Biochemistry & Behavior
- Florén Lind S et al. (2023). Acute low dose caffeine affects behavior profile and activity, an examination of male rats with high or low anxiety-like behavior, Behavioural Brain Research
- Lundberg S et al. (2022), Behavioral profiles of adolescent Alcohol-Preferring/Non-Preferring (P/NP) and High/Low Alcohol-Drinking (HAD/LAD) rats are dependent on line but not sex, Frontiers in Neuroscience
- Tjernström N et al. (2022), Functional connectivity in reward-related networks is associated with individual differences in gambling strategies in male Lister hooded rats, Addiction Biology
- Zelleroth S et al. (2022). Nandrolone decanoate and testosterone undecanoate differently affect stress hormones, neurotransmitter systems, and general activity in the male rat, Behavioural Brain Research
- Fernández MS et al. (2021), Prediction of ethanol self-administration in pre-weanling, adolescent, and young adult rats, Developmental Psychobiology
- Gore-Langton JK et al. (2021), The effects of age, sex, and handling on behavioral parameters in the multivariate concentric square field(TM) test, Physiology & Behavior
- Wille-Bille A et al. (2021), Effects of escalating versus fixed ethanol exposure on ∆FosB expression in the mesocorticolimbic pathway in adolescent and adult rats, The American Journal of Drug & Alcohol Abuse
- Fernández MS et al. (2020), Short-term selection for high and low ethanol intake during adolescence exerts lingering effects in stress-induced ethanol drinking and yields an anxiety-prone phenotype,. Behavioural Brain Research
- Lundberg S et al. (2020), Behavioral profiling in early adolescence and early adulthood of male wistar rats after short and prolonged maternal separation, Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
- Salguero A et al. (2020), Binge-like, naloxone-sensitive, voluntary ethanol intake at adolescence is greater than at adulthood, but does not exacerbate subsequent two-bottle choice drinking, Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
- Suárez A et al. (2020), Environmental enrichment during adolescence heightens ethanol intake in female, but not male, adolescent rats that are selectively bred for high and low ethanol intake during adolescence, The American Journal of Drug & Alcohol Abuse
2010-2019
- Lundberg S et al. (2019), Adolescent exploratory strategies and behavioral types in the multivariate concentric square field(TM) test, Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
- Ruiz P et al. (2018), Reserpine-induced depression is associated in female, but not in male, adolescent rats with heightened, fluoxetine-sensitive, ethanol consumption, Behavioural Brain Research
- Wille-Bille A et al. (2018). Prenatal ethanol induces an anxiety phenotype and alters expression of dynorphin & nociceptin/orphanin FQ genes, Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry
- Lundberg S et al. (2017), Few long-term consequences after prolonged maternal separation in female Wistar rats, PLOS ONE
- Wille-Bille A et al. (2017), Restraint stress enhances alcohol intake in adolescent female rats but reduces alcohol intake in adolescent male and adult female rats, Behavioural Brain Research
- Berardo LR et al. (2016), Post-weaning environmental enrichment, but not chronic maternal isolation, enhanced ethanol intake during periadolescence and early adulthood, Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
- Karlsson O & Roman E (2016), Dose-dependent effects of alcohol administration on behavioral profiles in the MCSF test, Alcohol
- Magara S et al. (2015), Altered explorative strategies and reactive coping style in the FSL rat model of depression, Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
- Momeni S & Roman E (2014), Subgroup-dependent effects of voluntary alcohol intake on behavioral profiles in outbred Wistar rats, Behavioural Brain Research
- Momeni S et al. (2014), Individual differences in risk-related behaviors and voluntary alcohol intake in outbred Wistar rats, Behavioural Pharmacology
- Palm S et al. (2014). Risk-assessment and risk-taking behavior predict potassium- and amphetamine-induced dopamine response in the dorsal striatum of rats, Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
- Daoura L et al. (2013), Qualitative differences in pup-retrieval strategies in a maternal separation paradigm, Journal of Behavioral & Brain Science
- Meyerson BJ et al. (2013),A rank-order procedure applied to an ethoexperimental behavior model—The Multivariate Concentric Square Field (MCSF) test, Journal of Behavioral & Brain Sciences
- Palm S et al. (2013), Effects of rearing conditions on behaviour and endogenous opioids in rats with alcohol access during adolescence, PloS One
- Roman E et al. (2012), Behavioral profiling of multiple pairs of rats selectively bred for high and low alcohol intake using the MCSF test, Addiction Biology
- Palm S et al. (2011), When is a Wistar a Wistar? Behavioral profiling of outbred Wistar rats from five different suppliers using the MCSF test, Applied Animal Behaviour Science
- Daoura L et al. (2010), Postpartum behavioral profiles in Wistar rats following maternal separation—Altered exploration and risk-assessment behavior in MS15 dams, Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
2003-2009
- Alsiö J et al. (2009), Inverse association of high-fat diet preference and anxiety-like behavior: A putative role for urocortin 2. Genes, Brain & Behavior
- Karlsson O et al. (2009), Long-term cognitive impairments in adult rats treated neonatally with β-N-methylamino-L-alanine, Toxicological Sciences
- Roman E & Colombo G (2009), Lower risk taking and exploratory behavior in alcohol-preferring sP rats than in alcohol non-preferring sNP rats in the multivariate concentric square field (MCSF) test, Behavioural Brain Research
- Roman E et al. (2007), The multivariate concentric square field test reveals different behavioural profiles in male AA and ANA rats with regard to risk taking and environmental reactivity, Behavioural Brain Research
- Meyerson BJ et al. (2006), The Concentric Square Field: A multivariate test arena for analysis of explorative strategies, Behavioural Brain Research
- Roman E et al. (2006), Behavioral profiles and stress-induced corticosteroid secretion in male Wistar rats subjected to short and prolonged periods of maternal separation. Hormones & Behavior
- Roos MW et al. (2003), Functional evaluation of cerebral microembolization in the rat, Brain Research
Publications in zebrafish
- Vossen LE et al. (2022), The zebrafish multivariate concentric square field: A standardized test for behavioral profiling of zebrafish (Danio rerio), Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
- Vossen LE et al. (2022), Sex-specific effects of acute ethanol exposure on locomotory activity and exploratory behavior in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio), Frontiers in Pharmacology