JoVE Neuroscience is a multidisciplinary section devoted to investigations of the structure, function, physiology, and pathophysiology of the brain and nervous system. Included methodologies range from molecular and cellular level studies to full central and peripheral neural systems. Potential treatment platforms and surgical techniques for neurological diseases and disorders are also presented in this section.

Neuroscience

JoVE Medicine serves as a connection between basic research and clinical applications. Articles may present medical procedures, case studies or clinical trial methodologies. Included studies are often modeled towards predictive, preventative, personalized, and practical approaches to treatment of disease. The goal of research methodologies in this section is to improve overall patient care and prognosis.

Medicine

JoVE Immunology and Infection includes content from a variety of fields working toward a shared initiative of improving global health. Techniques evaluating the biological response to pathogens from the molecular to organismal level are presented as well as therapeutic agents and their efficacy in treating disease.

Immunology and Infection

JoVE Genetics publishes video articles demonstrating experimental approaches to investigate gene function and regulation. This includes methods to study gene expression, mutagenesis, epigenetics, genetic determinants of development, genetic disorders, population genetics and evolution.

Genetics

JoVE Environment is dedicated to research methodologies that address environmental concerns and seek to better understand Earth's ecosystem.  Special consideration is given to experimental methodologies that assess society’s impact on the environment, suggest solutions for protecting Earth’s resources, and develop sustainable fuel sources. Moving towards an environmentally conscious planet is a collaborative effort with contributions from both life and physical scientists.

Environment

JoVE Engineering encompasses a broad range of experimental and instrumental techniques utilized in physics research. Investigations in this area strive to address and answer a broad range of scientific questions, such as device mechanisms and efficiencies, using physical tools. This approach often requires a combination of specialties, and research in this area tends to be interdisciplinary with contributions from mechanical, electrical, and chemical engineers.

Engineering

JoVE Developmental Biology publishes research methodologies in the field of developmental biology. This includes methods that are used to study biological development in vitro and in vivo at the molecular, cellular, tissue, organ and whole organism levels.

Developmental Biology

JoVE Chemistry surveys a broad scope of chemical disciplines. This collection includes fundamental and applied research that investigates molecular interactions, properties, and structure spanning in the following core divisions: analytical, organic, organometallic, inorganic, bioinorganic, and biochemistry. This section also includes the design and preparation of materials and small molecules for advanced or unique applications.

Chemistry

JoVE Cancer Research illustrates experimental approaches in biomedical research and clinical practice aimed at understanding, detecting, treating and preventing cancer. The video articles in this section demonstrate methods to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms of cancer, animal models of cancer research, development of new therapies and diagnostics, tumor imaging, chemical and radiation treatments, surgical procedures and improvements in therapy. These video articles offer researchers and clinical practitioners an efficient way to learn the technologies and experimental methods in cancer research.

Cancer Research

JoVE Biology welcomes all general biology research methodologies. Content in this section canvases all fields of cell, molecular, and organismal biology, ranging from new applications of standard techniques to novel approaches aimed at understanding the functions of life and living organisms. This diverse section includes, but is not limited to, techniques in physical biology, cellular biochemistry, genetics, physiology, systems biology and a combination of eukaryotic and prokaryotic model systems.

Biology

JoVE Bioengineering merges both physical and life sciences to understand and predict biological processes. Applying physical science tools to life science questions allow for the discovery of better technologies to measure, diagnose, and clinically treat disease.

Bioengineering

JoVE Biochemistry publishes experiments that investigate the structure, function, and interactions of biological molecules. The video articles in this section demonstrate methods to study nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates and lipids as well as enzyme function, protein folding, molecular interactions and biochemical reactions.

Biochemistry

JoVE Behavior documents observational and experimental techniques that seek to understand human and animal behavior. Work in this field includes analysis of genetic causes and physiological responses to internal or external stimuli as well as the implicated brain regions.

Behavior

Kinesthetic awareness is important to successfully navigate the environment. When we interact with our daily surroundings, some aspects of movement are deliberately planned, while others spontaneously occur below conscious awareness. The deliberate component of this dichotomy has been studied extensively in several contexts, while the spontaneous component remains largely under-explored. Moreover, how perceptual processes modulate these movement classes is still unclear. In particular, a currently debated issue is whether the visuomotor system is governed by the spatial percept produced by a visual illusion or whether it is not affected by the illusion and is governed instead by the veridical percept. Bistable percepts such as 3D depth inversion illusions (DIIs) provide an excellent context to study such interactions and balance, particularly when used in combination with reach-to-grasp movements. In this study, a methodology is developed that uses a DII to clarify the role of top-down processes on motor action, particularly exploring how reaches toward a target on a DII are affected in both deliberate and spontaneous movement domains.

methods-to-explore-influence-top-down-visual-processes-on-motor

Methods to Explore the Influence of Top-down Visual Processes on Motor Behavior

Kinesthetic awareness is important to successfully navigate the environment. When we interact with our daily surroundings, some aspects of movement are ...

A key challenge in studying reward processing in humans is to go beyond subjective self-report measures and quantify different aspects of reward such as hedonics, motivation, and goal value in more objective ways. This is particularly relevant for the understanding of overeating and obesity as well as their potential treatments. In this paper are described a set of measures of food-related motivation using handgrip force as a motivational measure. These methods can be used to examine changes in food related motivation with metabolic (satiety) and pharmacological manipulations and can be used to evaluate interventions targeted at overeating and obesity. However to understand food-related decision making in the complex food environment it is essential to be able to ascertain the reward goal values that guide the decisions and behavioral choices that people make. These values are hidden but it is possible to ascertain them more objectively using metrics such as the willingness to pay and a method for this is described. Both these sets of methods provide quantitative measures of motivation and goal value that can be compared within and between individuals.

studying-food-reward-and-motivation-in-humans

Studying Food Reward and Motivation in Humans

A key challenge in studying reward processing in humans is to go beyond subjective self-report measures and quantify different aspects of reward such as ...

Hypoxia can occur to varying degrees for different reasons during the perinatal period, affecting development. We aim to examine the consequences of mild to severe neonatal hypoxia in mice, focusing on its potential link to neurodegenerative fetal brain dysfunctions related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
We induced hypoxia in neonatal mice by delivering them in controlled environments with varying oxygen concentrations. The results showed elevated levels of HIF-1&#945; (a marker of hypoxia) in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, as well as increased neurodegeneration in these regions. Moreover, we observed altered expression of ASD-related miRNAs (miR-19a-3p, miR-361-5p, miR-150-5p, miR-126-3p, and miR-499a-5p) in hypoxic groups, consistent with previous results in human and animal models of ASD. These molecular alterations were accompanied by behavioral changes such as decreased movement, speed, social interaction, and repetitive behaviors, as well as an increased tendency to exhibit corner-seeking behavior in mice subjected to hypoxic conditions. Although behavioral and molecular changes were detectable in the 12% O2 group (mild hypoxia), the most pronounced changes were observed in the more severe hypoxia groups, at 10% O2 and 8% O2.
Overall, the results suggest that neonatal hypoxia can induce lasting molecular changes associated with neurodegenerative diseases with behavioral consequences. Moreover, even in normal birth, exposure to hypoxia during early development can impair memory and learning. The results highlight the need for early detection and intervention in newborns exposed to hypoxia to prevent long-term neurological problems. miRNA levels are regulated during development, and their modifications in tissues, especially in germ cells, constitute a risk factor for the next generation. The analyses provide a basis for studying the regulatory pathways that affect functional and behavioral changes under hypoxia.

hypoxia-alters-mirnas-levels-involved-non-mendelian-inheritance

Hypoxia Alters miRNAs Levels Involved in Non-Mendelian Inheritance of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Mice

Hypoxia can occur to varying degrees for different reasons during the perinatal period, affecting development. We aim to examine the consequences of mild ...

Despite females accounting for the majority of individuals suffering from psychiatric disorders, preclinical studies have almost exclusively focused on male subjects, partly due to the lack of ideal female animal paradigms. Developing effective models for studying psychiatric disorders in female animals remains a long-standing scientific challenge in the life sciences. A &#34;Multiple Integrated Social Stress (MISS)&#160;model&#34; in C57BL/6J female mice was recently established by simulating and integrating social risk factors that contribute to the development of psychiatric disorders. To establish this MISS paradigm, female C57BL/6J mice were randomly subjected each day, for ten consecutive days, to a sequence of stressors: social competition failure in the tube test, modified vicarious social defeat stress, inescapable overcrowding stress, and subsequent social isolation. Compared to na&#239;ve mice, MISS-exposed mice exhibited depressive- and anxious-like phenotypes, as measured by the sucrose preference, tail suspension, open field, and elevated plus maze tests. This paradigm offers a valuable tool for investigating the neurobiological mechanisms underlying depression and anxiety in females, particularly those with ambiguous etiology and complex symptomatology.

a-multiple-integrated-social-stress-model-for-psychiatric-disorders

A Multiple Integrated Social Stress Model for Psychiatric Disorders in Female C57BL/6J Mice

Despite females accounting for the majority of individuals suffering from psychiatric disorders, preclinical studies have almost exclusively focused on ...

In this study, the self-awareness trait was tested in Adelie penguins living on a remote island in Antarctica. Four experimental paradigms were designed for the study to visualize the effect of a coordinated and networked social life on generating the self-awareness trait in Adelie penguins. The study, conducted in extremely cold, snow-covered, and difficult terrains of Antarctica during January-February 2020, reports the presence of traits of self-awareness in wild Ad&#233;lie penguins in their natural habitat on Dog&#39;s Neck Ice Shelf and Svenner Island in East Antarctica.
The study is based on a close and careful watch on their daily movements, social activities, and overall lifestyle. Besides, it reports reactions&#160;and postures of penguins in response to their images in mirrors during four experimental paradigms-group-behavior test, modified mirror test (MMT), hidden-head test, and colored-bib test.
The paper argues that these experimental paradigms are probably the first attempt to find the presence of self-awareness traits in any penguin species. It is a pioneering attempt in conducting a set of cognitive experiments on the free-ranging individuals of a nonhuman species in their natural environment, without any prior familiarization, conditioning, or acclimatization of the experimental species. It is postulated that experimenting in a remote natural habitat, without any external superimposition, brings out the intrinsic qualities of an animal, in perfect equilibrium with its surroundings.
Future studies integrating the socio-ecology and cognitive ethology of penguins may provide further insights into whether the reported self-awareness traits have evolved due to the cooperative behavior of individual penguins with conspecific individuals throughout their colonial/social setups. It is based on the understanding that self-awareness is an essential social requirement for a cooperative lifestyle and lies at the aggregated level of social cognition.

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A Modified Mirror Test as a Visual Guide for the Self-awareness Trait in Wild Antarctica Penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae

In this study, the self-awareness trait was tested in Adelie penguins living on a remote island in Antarctica. Four experimental paradigms were designed ...

Predatory pursuit behavior involves a series of important physiological processes, such as locomotion, learning, and decision-making that are critical to the success of an animal in capturing prey. However, there are few methods and systems for studying predatory pursuit behavior in the laboratory, especially in mice, a commonly used mammalian model. The main factors limiting this research are the uncontrollability of live prey (e.g., crickets) and the challenge of harmonizing experimental standards. The goal of this study was to develop an interactive platform to detect and quantify predatory pursuit behaviors in mice on a robotic bait. The platform uses computer vision to monitor the relative positions of the mouse and robotic bait in real time to program the motion patterns of the robotic bait, and the interactive two-dimensional sliders magnetically control the movement of the robotic bait to achieve a closed-loop system. The robotic bait is able to evade approaching hungry mice in real-time, and its escape speed and direction can be adjusted to mimic the predatory pursuit process in different contexts. After a short period of unsupervised training (less than two weeks), the mice were able to perform the predation task with a relatively high efficiency (less than 15 s). By recording kinematic parameters such as speed and trajectories of the robotic bait and the mice, we were able to quantify the pursuit process under different conditions. In conclusion, this method provides a new paradigm for the study of predatory behavior and can be used to further investigate the dynamics and neural mechanisms of predatory pursuit behavior.

a-real-time-interactive-system-for-studying-confrontational-pursuit

A Real-Time Interactive System for Studying Confrontational Pursuit Behavior in Rodents

Predatory pursuit behavior involves a series of important physiological processes, such as locomotion, learning, and decision-making that are critical to ...

This study demonstrates the utility of a rat model of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) to assess the ability of the non-psychoactive cannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) to modulate the development of this syndrome in vivo. The method utilizes the chemotherapeutic agent paclitaxel to generate an allodynic phenotype in the animals. This study describes how to handle and solubilize CBD, administer the chemotherapeutic agent, assess mechanical and cold sensitivity, and apply high-speed videography to measure nocifensive behavior in animals. Using the procedures outlined, the data support that CBD prevents the allodynic phenotype from developing in the treated animals. No difference was observed in the CBD-treated animals from day 0 (pre-paclitaxel baseline) to day 7 (post-sensitization) in mechanical or thermal sensitivity, while the vehicle-treated animals became significantly more sensitive. This response to treatment is durable up to the latest time point where data were collected (7 weeks). The addition of high-speed videography allows for a more granular and unbiased assessment of this behavioral phenotype (e.g., classification of analgesia and anti-allodynia). This demonstrates both the utility of this model for cannabinoid drug characterization and the potential role of CBD in mitigating neuropathic pain.

prevention-allodynia-hyperalgesia-cannabidiol-rat-model-chemotherapy

Prevention of Allodynia and Hyperalgesia by Cannabidiol in a Rat Model of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

This study demonstrates the utility of a rat model of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) to assess the ability of the non-psychoactive ...

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterized by extreme mood swings, including periods of emotional highs (mania) and lows (depression). While the exact underlying neurobiology is not yet fully understood, imbalances in neurotransmitter systems, particularly dopamine, appear to play a central role. For this reason, manipulations of dopaminergic pathways have been used to model mania or depression in rodents. However, models that accurately represent the typical switch between these two episodes are rare, limiting face validity. In a unique model, modern techniques are used to temporarily increase dopamine D1 receptor expression, which has been implicated in the pathology of bipolar disorder. A tetracycline-inducible lentiviral construct that expresses the dopamine D1 receptor under the control of the calmodulin kinase II alpha promoter is stereotactically injected into the medial prefrontal cortex of adult rats. Dopamine D1 receptor overexpression is achieved by adding the tetracycline analog doxycycline to the animals&#39; drinking water, leading to an increase in reward-related, impulsive, and risk-taking behaviors and a decrease in anxiety. These behaviors resemble a mania-like phenotype. By removing doxycycline from the drinking water, a depressive-like phenotype, characterized by increased helplessness and anhedonia, can be induced within the same animal. This article provides a step-by-step protocol for performing the surgery, as well as procedures for inducing the bipolar disorder-like phenotype. Additionally, considerations for assessing behavioral changes associated with mania-like and depressive-like behavior are described. This promising model, which demonstrates good construct and face validity, offers a valuable tool for further investigating the pathophysiological mechanisms of bipolar disorder.

developing-a-rat-model-for-bipolar-disorder

Developing a Rat Model for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterized by extreme mood swings, including periods of emotional highs (mania) and lows (depression). ...

Throwing the ball to score a goal in handball is a critical action for success in offensive play. Speed and accuracy are two determining factors for successful throws. While there is substantial research on the importance of these factors, discrepancies exist regarding their relationship. This study aims to analyze the impact of jumping ability on throwing speed and accuracy across different competitive levels in handball. Thirty-five male handball players were recruited from amateur and professional levels. Jumping ability was assessed and throwing speed and accuracy were measured using a high-performance sports radar. Significant differences (p &lt; 0.05) were found between amateur and professional groups in countermovement jump (CMJ) and throwing speed jump. The comparative analysis revealed significant differences in throwing speed and in correct and incorrect throws, with large to very large effect sizes. Pearson's r correlation indicated significant correlations between throwing speed jump and CMJ, countermovement jump left (CMJL), and countermovement jump right (CMJR), and between throwing speed deficit and CMJL in the total sample. The results show that professional handball players exhibit higher throwing accuracy and speed compared to amateurs. Throwing speed and accuracy are positively correlated with performance in male handball players.

importance-of-jumping-ability-in-handball-throwing-speed-and-accuracy

Importance of Jumping Ability in Handball Throwing Speed and Accuracy

Throwing the ball to score a goal in handball is a critical action for success in offensive play. Speed and accuracy are two determining factors for ...

Social dominance is altered in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases and serves as a useful outcome measure in preclinical studies of these disorders. The tube test is a simple behavioral assay for evaluating social dominance that does not require expensive equipment. In this test, two mice enter opposite ends of a clear plastic tube, and after meeting in the middle, one (the less dominant) must back out. The tube test can be used for both male and female mice and includes several adaptable parameters to suit the investigator's needs. Mice may be tested against multiple unique opponents to provide an index of social dominance. Social dominance in the tube test remains stable over repeated testing and correlates with performance in other social assays. Additionally, the test can be conducted between cage mates to assess within-cage social dominance hierarchies. The tube test is particularly useful in preclinical therapeutic studies, as it enables longitudinal testing before and after experimental interventions. Therefore, it serves as a convenient outcome measure for mechanistic studies and preclinical therapeutic screening.

assessing-social-dominance-in-mouse-models-using-the-tube-test

Assessing Social Dominance in Mouse Models Using the Tube Test

Social dominance is altered in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases and serves as a useful outcome measure in preclinical studies of these ...

Journal - behavior