Light Deprivation Induces Anxiety-Like Behaviors in Mice

Abstract

To gain a more profound understanding of the nature of anxiety, this study utilized two animal behavioral models: the Open Field Test (OFT) and the Light/Dark Box Transition Test (LDT), using two groups of C57BL/6J mice: one with anxiety — like symptoms and the other without. In the LDT, the control group (healthy mice) showed a significantly higher tendency for active movement (P < 0.05) and a greater preference for exploring unfamiliar environments compared to the group of mice with anxiety, while the differences revealed by the OFT were less pronounced. Our findings highlight the effectiveness of these two animal models and the correlation between locomotive behavior and anxiety, which can be applied in future research.