The forced swim test measures behavioral despair in rodents and is used as a screen for antidepressant efficacy.
The forced swim test is thought to measure the depressive-like state of a rodent by measuring the amount of immobility time in the water. Mice with higher depressive-like behavior show “learned helplessness” or behavioral despair, where they spend most of the time floating in the water, as opposed to swimming or climbing. Historically the test has been used as a screen for antidepressant efficacy, as known antidepressant drugs increase the amount of time the mouse swims/climbs.
Measures
Primary: immobility time
Secondary: time swimming; time climbing
Available Equipment
We currently have 4 tanks for the FST.