Well… the maze idea is a good one to use as a way of something measurable to compare one group/mouse to another. Always test the mice in the maze BEFORE variables are introduced, then you have a “baseline” by which to compare it’s performance later.

However, why not consider a different “variable” other than food… how about music? Subject one mouse to music (loud? rock? classic? soft? whatever) for several hours a day while a second mouse (control mouse) is not … has a quiet or “normal” atmosphere. Then compare how well the two perform in the maze, over a matter of week or so.

So does the music affect one mouse or not?

Then, maybe, switch the mice… the “music mouse” gets quiet, the quiet mouse gets music, and retest in the maze. Any changes?

Good luck and have FUN with it! Oh… IF you use multiple mice, be SURE YOU GET BOTH THE SAME GENDER!!! That way, after your project is complete and you KEEP them, they won’t breed!!!!!!

My daughter did a similar project, but instead of mice we used a hamster. Basically we made a maze (or you can buy one) and we put him in the maze every day for five days while feeding him fruits and vegetables and giving him plenty of exercise. We clocked the length of time it took him to get through the maze to his food. The following week we put him in the maze without fruits and vegetables and without exercise, and clocked the time again. We wanted to see if a hamster gets quicker and smarter with a good diet and exercise. Let him get used to going through the maze a week before you begin your experiment. If you decide to do this one, I can give you more info. e-mail me at [email protected] I have an example I can show you. If not Good Luck.