The present invention relates to an adhesion substrate for at least one animal or human cell on the surface of which is generated an adhesion pattern for at least one animal or human cell, said pattern including at least two areas adhering to said cell, which are spaced apart by an area not adhering to said cell on which a polymer not adhering to said cell is immobilized, characterized in that the polymer is selected so as to have a conformation which may be modified by varying a parameter of the environment in which the substrate is found, to a method for preparing such a substrate and to the cell analysis methods using such a substrate.