maze
n. a system of intersecting paths and blind alleys that must be navigated from an entrance to an exit. Various types of mazes are used in experiments with both human and nonhuman animals. They are often used, for example, in studies of animal cognition that investigate spatial learning and memory (see Morris water maze; radial maze), organization of cognitive maps, and the foraging strategies of predators searching for prey. A common human maze is a printed paper pattern on which the participant traces the correct pathway with a pencil; an example is the Porteus Maze Test, which tests planning and problem-solving ability. See also alley maze; elevated maze; T maze; Y maze.