2.4.1. Open Field

The open field apparatus (Stoelting Company, Wood Dale, IL, USA) is a square, polyurethane box (35.5 cm × 35.5 cm × 30 cm). The animal was placed in the center of the apparatus. General locomotion parameters (distance traveled, locomotion speed, time mobile) and parameters relating to anxiety (freezing time; time spent, distance travelled, and entries into central and periphery zones) were recorded for 10 min. The apparatus was cleaned with 70% ethanol after each animal's exposure. ANY-Maze software (Stoelting Company, Wood Dale, IL, USA) was used to record and analyze the behavioral data.

#### 2.4.2. Elevated Zero Maze

The elevated zero maze apparatus is an elevated (60 cm high) ring-shaped runway (5 cm wide), with 2 equally sized (25% of the runway length) sections closed off by walls (40 cm high) opposite each other. The other two sections are open (Stoelting Company, Wood Dale, IL, USA). The maze was equally illuminated in all four sections. Mice were placed in the center of one of the open sections, facing one of the closed sections, and allowed to explore the maze for 5 min. The apparatus was cleaned with 70% ethanol after each animal's exposure. ANY-Maze SoftwareTM (Stoelting Company, Wood Dale, IL, USA) was used to record and analyze the behavioral data.
