The authors have no acknowledgements.

伦理学声明:所有的程序批准了悉尼大学的动物伦理委员会，并符合国家卫生和澳大利亚的指引，医学研究委员会。程序是在其被饲养在悉尼大学的博世灭鼠设施C57 / BL6J小鼠进行。所有小鼠被安置在一个通风良好的房间21°C的环境温度在12小时光暗周期灯在0600小时的独立通风笼与自由采食获得干粮和水。女性晚期妊娠被随机分配到标准或环保丰富的住房条件。 1.房屋（浓缩度）: <ol><li>获得4晚孕成年雌性小鼠。随机指派2至标准状态和他们每个人放入含有一种红色鼠标冰屋一个干净整洁的标准鼠笼（外形尺寸391 X 199×160毫米）。对于富集条件，将REMA都进不去2小鼠成一个干净的老鼠大小的笼子（外形尺寸462 X 403 X404毫米）。 </li><li>进入富集笼，发生各种旨在提高感觉和运动刺激的对象（如运行车轮，视觉刺激，香味棉球，魔术贴带）。 </li><li>每2至3天左右移动的笼中这些对象;刷新任何已被销毁。 </li><li>在21天产后，性动物和地方断奶到男女隔离的外壳，他们提出的环境条件相一致。为富集条件确保有3至10只小鼠每笼2和5只小鼠为标准之间。开始行为测试，一旦动物达到成年（12-14周龄）。 </li></ol> （二）建设的益智箱<ol><li>获得6个白色的丙烯酸（或其它非多孔材料）:1 750 X280毫米，2 280×250毫米，2 750×250毫米，和一个150×280毫米（ 见图1）。 </li><li>获得一块黑色亚克力280×250毫米，具有40×40毫米的方形开口切入此片的一侧（ 见图1）。 </li><li>组装拼图盒如下:使用750 X280毫米片作为框的底部，使用280×250毫米片作为框的端部，和750×250毫米片作为框的侧面。 </li><li>测量150毫米成箱从一端，然后将黑色片的丙烯酸横跨盒子，使其分割成两个腔室（1大，1小）与所述盒的底部的开口齐平。 </li><li>取150×280毫米一块白色的丙烯酸，并将其放置顶上确保其完全覆盖这个区域中，提供一个暗"目标框"室中的盒的小室中。通过铰链贴上这块丙烯酸到主箱的主体中，或将自由地在行为测试完全除去。 </li><li>采取3个丙烯酸（3 4×120 MM），并加入到做一个"U-十八主编"通道。 </li></ol><img alt="图1" fo:content-width="5in" src="/files/ftp_upload/52225/52225fig1highres.jpg" width="500" /> 图1:拼图方块任务的示意图 。的益智方块是丙烯酸箱组成的开放式场区（600×280毫米）和庇护目标框区域（150×280毫米），测量750 X280毫米在所有。分区（灰色）分隔两个区域内的40×40毫米孔径允许动物从开放的领域进入到覆盖目标框区域。该开口阻塞与障碍物越来越难以去除的测试进展。动物经过5天的协议，由四个阻塞条件与三个试验为每个条件。 3.运行的拼图方块任务<ol><li>彻底清洁益智方块用70％的酒精。重复每个动物测试的这一步。 </li><li>目标盒AR内放置一个干净的红色鼠标冰屋EA的益智方块，并更换上的目标盒盖子。 </li><li>如果有一个阻塞条件被测试时，将目标框的门道内的障碍物（ 见图2）。 </li><li>将鼠标被测试到拼图方块的开放领域的部分，面向的目标盒，并在距离球门盒底最远。 </li><li>记录进入益智箱的目标，箱型截面采取的所有四个爪子的动物的时间。 </li><li>如果动物没有进入目标框，则终止试验一旦达到设定的时间限制（ 见表1）。 </li><li>一旦试验完成后，从益智盒中取出的动物，并将其放置到一个单独的控股笼，直到下一次试验开始。保持试验各动物之间的60至180秒的差距。 </li><li>对于每一个动物，进行每日三次试验测试五连续两天，有四个阻塞条件和各种条件的三项试验。第三个三的一个给定的阻塞状况人应该始终施用在随后一天（ 见表1）。 </li></ol><img alt="表1" fo:content-width="5in" src="/files/ftp_upload/52225/52225table1.jpg" width="500" /> 表1:拼图方块的任务计划 。的益智方块任务运行5天，由四个阻塞的条件。有三个试验在每个第一四天，和一个在第五日。每个阻塞条件有三个试验;前两个在一天，第三一天后立即开始。的阻塞状况一审的目的是测试母语解决问题的能力，二审审查任务采集和强化，第三审判作为一种分析解决方案，保留和召回。 <img alt="图2" fo:content-width="6in" src="/files/ftp_upload/52225/52225fig2highres.jpg" width="600" /> 图2:壅的益智方块任务中离子的条件。该拼图方块舞台和阻塞条件本研究中使用的示意图。（A）条件0（C0），与目前开放领域和目标框区域之间的门口内无障碍物。（B）条件1（C1 ），与开场和目标框区之间的门道内的"U形"通道存在。（C）的条件2（C2），其中所述通道被填充有干净的被褥材料。（D）的条件3（C3 ），具有"组织插头"旷场和目标框区之间的门道内本。（E）条件4（C4）的带有"泡沫塞"旷场和目标框之间的门道内本区域。竞技场的尺寸按在方法和图1列出。 4.解读数据<ol><li>数据表示无论是时间采取COM完整的审判（包括空试验动物的地方没有完成规定期限内任务）或作为空试验的次数。 </li><li>使用重复测量ANOVA经拼图盒中的性能评估的住房条件的影响，以阻塞型/条件（C）和任务号（T）内，主体因素和富集水平（标准相对富集的）作为因子主体间。 </li></ol>

The authors declare they have no competing financial interests.

提出的数据表明，该拼图盒可有效地用于评估EE的影响。在丰富的环境中提高小鼠持续了显著少来这套行为分析比没有内标准实验室条件下饲养的动物内解决难题阻塞时间。此外，这种差异在三四个条件测试一审最为突出，这表明EE对动物的原生解决问题的能力有较大的影响，相对于他们的能力，以加强或保留解决方案，通过任务提出的问题。 该拼图方块的主要优点是它的价?...

丰富环境（EE）可以被定义为周围提供动物与社会交往，运动活动，和更大的感官刺激比平常经历在标准实验室environment.EE增加机会已经显示出持续影响动物的行为，使左右变化，如学习和记忆的任务降低压力和焦虑有关的活动8-10，提高了性能8,11，发病初期的运动协调性和探索性的活动11，上瘾的物质变化，产妇护理8以及电阻12 15。此外，EE已经揭示改善神经退行性疾病的影响，延缓其发作和减小在亨廷顿1-4,16，帕金森氏17和阿尔茨海默氏病18的动物模型的症状的严重程度。 这些变化COR相关的解剖和分子改变EE被称为整个大脑诱发。从开发的初期阶段，丰富的环境中饲养的动物表现出无数的神经变化，包括增加大脑的重量和皮质的厚度，树突分支9,2-22和突触密度23。 EE可以改变两者的水平和生长因子表达9,24-30，这已被证明有助于感官25,26,28,29加速发展，助记符30，以及马达电路31,32的定时。 调查EE的影响时，没有考虑到不同类型的个人研究9,24,27,30中使用的动物和环境的前期工作已经揭示了次矛盾的结果。目前，还可以用来测量在不同菌株和规格不同EE范式的有效性没有一致的和简单的行为的任务动物当中。 的益智方块任务的目的是作为一个简单的测试，以确定动物的原生解决问题的能力7。放置在开放区域的动物都必须除去妨碍位于一个小开口内以便访问一个覆盖区域/住房材料。每个受试者给出三个试验具有相同的阻塞，以便评估三种不同的认知属性。一审产生的内在或本地解决问题的能力的基准指标。在第二试验中，在同一天中运行，给出了一些指示来改善，从而加强策略用于除去特定障碍物动物的能力。在第三试验中，在第二天进行的，使我们了解到受试者的保留和召回得知解决该任务的能力。 动机为解决这些"阻塞难题"，由动物可以变化，有可能唤起一种与生俱来的欲望，以避免开放的领域和寻求庇护，还有一种内在驱动探索周围的环境6,7。众多潜在行为的驱动来解决这一难题盒的愿望基本的表明，大脑的不同区域都参与调解的工作性能。以前的工作已经表明，在精神分裂症的鼠模型中，前额叶皮层以及海马中涉及采集此任务5。大鼠病变研究也揭示了大量参与益智箱的性能，包括各种丘脑核，下丘脑，小脑和边缘结构的大脑区域。总之，这些发现表明，从事这一解决问题的任务涉及的主机与认知功能相关的神经结构。 的益智方块已成功地用于评估由M展出了解决问题的小鼠的能力，以及认知缺陷精神分裂症5-7尿液车型。上的任务的性能已被证明是高度一致的，并与其他认知行为测试6的结果很好地相关。这项工作的目的是从而适应拼图方块的任务，成为确定EE的有效性的简单和可靠的手段。

<table><tbody><tr><td>Black Acrylic Board</td><td></td><td></td><td>280 x 250 mm with a 40 x 40 mm &quot;door&quot; cut into one side</td></tr><tr><td>White Acrylic Board</td><td></td><td></td><td>280 x 250 mm</td></tr><tr><td>White Acrylic Board</td><td></td><td></td><td>280 x 250 mm</td></tr><tr><td>White Acrylic Board</td><td></td><td></td><td>750 x 250 mm</td></tr><tr><td>White Acrylic Board</td><td></td><td></td><td>750 x 250 mm</td></tr><tr><td>White Acrylic Board</td><td></td><td></td><td>150 x 280 mm</td></tr><tr><td>White Acrylic Board</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Underpass</td><td></td><td></td><td>3 pieces of 40 x 120 mm plexiglass or acrylic</td></tr><tr><td colspan="4">Note: If unable to access acrylic board, plexiglass or similar non-porous material will suffice.</td></tr><tr><td>Webcam</td><td>Logitech</td><td>C210</td><td>Fix to roof with electrical tape. Alternatively, use a tripod.</td></tr><tr><td>VirtualDub v1.10.4</td><td>VirtualDub</td><td>N/A&amp;nbsp;</td><td>Software for recording behaviour videos. Input from webcam.</td></tr><tr><td>TopScan v 3.0</td><td>CleverSys Inc.</td><td>N/A&amp;nbsp;</td><td>Software for automated top-view tracking and analysis of mouse behaviour. Captured videos are analysed post-hoc.</td></tr></tbody></table>

the use of the puzzle box as a means of assessing the efficacy of environmental enrichment

Environmental enrichment can dramatically influence the development and function of neural circuits. Further, enrichment has been shown to successfully delay the onset of symptoms in models of Huntington&#8217;s disease 1-4, suggesting environmental factors can evoke a neuroprotective effect against the progressive, cellular level damage observed in neurodegenerative disorders. The ways in which an animal can be environmentally enriched, however, can vary considerably. Further, there is no straightforward manner in which the effects of environmental enrichment can be assessed: most methods require either fairly complicated behavioral paradigms and/or postmortem anatomical/physiological analyses. This protocol describes the use of a simple and inexpensive behavioral assay, the Puzzle Box 5-7 as a robust means of determining the efficacy of increased social, sensory and motor stimulation on mice compared to cohorts raised in standard laboratory conditions. This simple problem solving task takes advantage of a rodent&#8217;s innate desire to avoid open enclosures by seeking shelter. Cognitive ability is assessed by adding increasingly complex impediments to the shelter&#8217;s entrance. The time a given subject takes to successfully remove the obstructions and enter the shelter serves as the primary metric for task performance. This method could provide a reliable means of rapidly assessing the efficacy of different enrichment protocols on cognitive function, thus paving the way for systematically determining the role specific environmental factors play in delaying the onset of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disease.

此处所描述的结果是有代表性的样品，用来自几个队列选自不同窝的拍摄数据。所有的行为测试是0700和1100小时之间进行的，与动物的人群中随机测试顺序。在一个丰富的环境中饲养的动物（N = 14，女7例和7男）花了显著更少的时间到拼图方块比在标准环境下长大内解决阻塞任务（N = 15，女7例和8例男性）（见图3）（重复测量ANOVA与环境因子主体之间，F = 19.525，P &lt;0.001）。的益智方?...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about The Use of the Puzzle Box as a Means of Assessing the Efficacy of Environmental Enrichment at JoVE.com

The Use of the Puzzle Box as a Means of Assessing the Efficacy of Environmental Enrichment

Environmental enrichment provides a potential protective effect against neurodegenerative disorders. Currently, however, there is no easy way of determining the efficacy of enrichment procedures. This protocol describes a simple &#8220;Puzzle Box&#8221; method for assessing an animal&#8217;s cognitive function, in order to reveal the effectiveness of environmental enrichment.

该拼图方块的使用作为评价环境富集的功效的一种手段

Environmental enrichment can dramatically influence the development and function of neural circuits.  Further, enrichment has been shown to successfully ...

the-use-puzzle-box-as-means-assessing-efficacy-environmental

Research

JoVE Journal

Behavior

11.7K 次观看.  University of Sydney. Environmental enrichment provides a potential protective effect against neurodegenerative disorders. Currently, however, there is no easy way of determining the efficacy of enrichment procedures. This protocol describes a simple “Puzzle Box” method for assessing an animal’s cognitive function, in order to reveal the effectiveness of environmental enrichment.

视频: The Use of the Puzzle Box as a Means of Assessing the Efficacy of Environmental Enrichment

The Modified Hole Board - Measuring Behavior, Cognition and Social Interaction in Mice and Rats

This protocol describes the modified hole board (mHB), which combines features from a traditional hole board and open field and is designed to measure multiple dimensions of unconditioned behavior in small laboratory mammals (e.g., mice, rats, tree shrews and small primates). This paradigm is a valuable alternative for the use of a behavioral test battery, since a broad behavioral spectrum of an animal&#8217;s behavioral profile can be investigated in one single test.
The apparatus consists of a box, representing the &#8216;protected&#8217; area, separated from a group compartment. A board, on which small cylinders are staggered in three lines, is placed in the center of the box, representing the &#8216;unprotected&#8217; area of the set-up. The cognitive abilities of the animals can be measured by baiting some cylinders on the board and measuring the working and reference memory. Other unconditioned behavior, such as activity-related-, anxiety-related- and social behavior, can be observed using this paradigm. Behavioral flexibility and the ability to habituate to a novel environment can additionally be observed by subjecting the animals to multiple trials in the mHB, revealing insight into the animals&#8217; adaptive capacities.
Due to testing order effects in a behavioral test battery, na&#239;ve animals should be used for each individual experiment. By testing multiple behavioral dimensions in a single paradigm and thereby circumventing this issue, the number of experimental animals used is reduced. Furthermore, by avoiding social isolation during testing and without the need to food deprive the animals, the mHB represents a behavioral test system, inducing if any, very low amount of stress.

This protocol describes the modified hole board, which is a behavioral test set-up that comprises the characteristics of an open field and a traditional hole board. This set-up enables the differential analysis of unconditioned behavior of small laboratory mammals as well as the analysis of cognitive abilities.

修改后的孔板 - 测量行为，认知和社会互动小鼠和大鼠

This protocol describes the modified hole board (mHB), which combines features from a traditional hole board and open field and is designed to measure ...

科研

行为学

A Protocol for Housing Mice in an Enriched Environment

Environmental enrichment (EE) is a housing environment for mice that boosts mental and physical health compared to standard laboratory housing. Our recent studies demonstrate that environmental enrichment decreases adiposity, increases energy expenditure, resists diet induced obesity, and causes cancer remission and inhibition in mice. EE typically consists of larger living space, a variety of &#8216;toys&#8217; to interact with, running wheels, and can include a number of other novel environmental changes. All of this fosters a more complex social engagement, cognitive and physical stimulations. Importantly, the toy location and type of toy is changed regularly, which encourages the mice to adapt to a frequently changing and novel environment. Many variables can be manipulated in EE to promote health effects in mice. Thus these approaches are difficult to control and must be properly managed to successfully replicate the associated phenotypes. Therefore, the goal of this video is to demonstrate how EE is properly set up and maintained to assure a complex, challenging, and controlled environment so that other researchers can easily reproduce the protective effects of EE against obesity and cancer.

Environmental enrichment for mice requires a complex and challenging setup, as well as comprehensive husbandry and handling techniques to assure robust metabolic and anti-cancer effects in the mice. This protocol provides detailed procedures to reproduce the above mentioned effects in mice.

在丰富环境的协议房屋小鼠

Environmental enrichment (EE) is a housing environment for mice that boosts mental and physical health compared to standard laboratory housing. Our recent ...

Assessing Burrowing, Nest Construction, and Hoarding in Mice

Deterioration in the ability to perform "Activities of daily living" (ADL) is an early sign of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Preclinical behavioural screening of possible treatments for AD currently largely focuses on cognitive testing, which frequently demands expensive equipment and lots of experimenter time. However, human episodic memory (the most severely affected aspect of memory in AD) is different to rodent memory, which seems to be largely non-episodic. Therefore the present ways of screening for new AD treatments for AD in rodents are intrinsically unlikely to succeed. A new approach to preclinical screening would be to characterise the ADL of mice. Fortuitously, several such assays have recently been developed at Oxford, and here the three most sensitive and well-characterised are presented.
Burrowing was first developed in Oxford13. It evolved from a need to develop a mouse hoarding paradigm. Most published rodent hoarding paradigms required a distant food source to be linked to the home cage by a connecting passage. This would involve modifying the home cage as well as making a mouse-proof connecting passage and food source. So it was considered whether it would be possible to put the food source inside the cage. It was found that if a container was placed on the floor it was emptied by the next morning., The food pellets were, however, simply deposited in a heap at the container entrance, rather than placed in a discrete place away from the container, as might be expected if the mice were truly hoarding them. Close inspection showed that the mice were performing digging ("burrowing") movements, not carrying the pellets in their mouths to a selected place as they would if truly hoarding them.6



Food pellets are not an essential substrate for burrowing; mice will empty tubes filled with sand, gravel, even soiled bedding from their own cage. Moreover, they will empty a full tube even if an empty one is placed next to it8.



Several nesting protocols exist in the literature. The present Oxford one simplifies the procedure and has a well-defined scoring system for nest quality5. 



A hoarding paradigm was later developed in which the mice, rather than hoarding back to the real home cage, were adapted to living in the "home base" of a hoarding apparatus. This home base was connected to a tube made of wire mesh, the distal end of which contained the food source. This arrangement proved to yield good hoarding behaviour, as long as the mice were adapted to living in the "home base" during the day and only allowed to enter the hoarding tube at night.

Burrowing, nesting, and hoarding are species-typical activities that mice readily perform in the laboratory. This article describes how they can be easily and cheaply assessed. These protocols are extremely sensitive to mouse strain, brain lesions and diseases. Moreover they constitute &#x201C;environmental enrichment&#x201D; for the mice, and embody the &#x201C;Refinement&#x201D; aspect of the &#x201C;3 Rs&#x201D;18.

评估挖洞，在小鼠的鸟巢建设和囤积

Deterioration in the ability to perform "Activities of daily living" (ADL) is an early sign of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Preclinical behavioural screening ...

神经科学

Novel Object Exploration as a Potential Assay for Higher Order Repetitive Behaviors in Mice

Restricted, repetitive behaviors (RRBs) are a core feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and disrupt the lives of affected individuals. RRBs are commonly split into lower-order and higher-order components, with lower order RRBs consisting of motor stereotypies and higher order RRBs consisting of perseverative and sequencing behaviors. Higher order RRBs are challenging to model in mice. Current assays for RRBs in mice focus primarily on the lower order components, making basic biomedical research into potential treatments or interventions for higher-order RRBs difficult. Here we describe a new assay, novel object exploration. This assay uses a basic open-field arena with four novel objects placed around the perimeter. The test mouse is allowed to freely explore the arena and the order in which the mouse investigates the novel objects is recorded. From these data, patterned sequences of exploration can be identified, as can the most preferred object for each mouse. The representative data shared here and past results using the novel object exploration assay illustrate that inbred mouse strains do demonstrate different behavior in this assay and that strains with elevated lower order RRBs also show elevated patterned behavior. As such, the novel object exploration assay appears to possess good face validity for higher order RRBs in humans and may be a valuable assay for future studies investigating novel therapeutics for ASD.

Higher order restricted, repetitive behaviors (RRBs) disrupt the lives of affected individuals. These behaviors are challenging to model in rodents, making basic biomedical research into potential treatments or interventions for RRBs difficult. Here we describe novel object exploration as a potential assay for higher order RRBs in mice.

新对象的探索在小鼠电位测定高阶重复的行为

Restricted, repetitive behaviors (RRBs) are a core feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and disrupt the lives of affected individuals.  RRBs are ...

Introducing Clicker Training as a Cognitive Enrichment for Laboratory Mice

Establishing new refinement strategies in laboratory animal science is a central goal in fulfilling the requirements of Directive 2010/63/EU. Previous research determined a profound impact of gentle handling protocols on the well-being of laboratory mice. By introducing clicker training to the keeping of mice, not only do we promote the amicable treatment of mice, but we also enable them to experience cognitive enrichment. Clicker training is a form of positive reinforcement training using a conditioned secondary reinforcer, the "click" sound of a clicker, which serves as a time bridge between the strengthened behavior and an upcoming reward. The effective implementation of the clicker training protocol with a cohort of 12 BALB/c inbred mice of each sex proved to be uncomplicated. The mice learned rather quickly when challenged with tasks of the clicker training protocol, and almost all trained mice overcame the challenges they were given (100% of female mice and 83% of male mice). This study has identified that clicker training for mice strongly correlates with reduced fear in the mice during human-mice interactions, as shown by reduced anxiety-related behaviors (e.g., defecation, vocalization, and urination) and fewer depression-like behaviors (e.g., floating). By developing a reliable protocol that can be easily integrated into the daily routine of the keeping of laboratory mice, the lifetime experience of welfare in the mice can be improved substantially.

The development of new refinement strategies for laboratory mice is a challenging task that contributes towards fulfilling the 3R principle. This protocol introduces clicker training as a cognitive enrichment program for laboratory mice.

引进响片训练为实验室老鼠认知富集

Establishing new refinement strategies in laboratory animal science is a central goal in fulfilling the requirements of Directive 2010/63/EU. Previous ...

Analyzing Spatial Learning and Prosocial Behavior in Mice Using the Barnes Maze and Damsel-in-Distress Paradigms

The Barnes maze is a reliable measure of spatial learning and memory that does not require food restriction or exposure to extremely stressful stimuli. The Barnes maze can also assess other mouse behaviors, such as general motivation to escape from the maze platform and exploratory behavior. The Barnes maze can measure whether a genetic mutation or environmental variable can impact the acquisition and retention of spatial memories, as well as provide information about the search strategy employed by the mice. Here we use the Barnes maze to detect a memory deficit in adult mice following a single developmental ethanol exposure event. The newly described Damsel-in-Distress paradigm exposes a male mouse to a female mouse trapped in a chamber in the open center field of the arena. It provides an opportunity for the mouse to socially respond to the trapped female and exhibit prosocial behavior. The Damsel-in-Distress paradigm can also be used to examine mouse behavior in a novel arena and measure locomotor activity. Both the Barnes Maze and the Damsel-in-Distress protocols require minimal financial investment and most aspects of the tests can be constructed from common lab supplies. These flexible and accessible tools can also be used to detect behavioral changes over the course of development.

This protocol measures spatial learning and memory using the Barnes maze. A novel Damsel-in-Distress paradigm is used to assess locomotor activity and prosocial behavior in mice.

利用巴恩斯迷宫和困境中的破坏范式分析小鼠的空间学习和社会行为

The Barnes maze is a reliable measure of spatial learning and memory that does not require food restriction or exposure to extremely stressful stimuli. ...

Automated, Long-term Behavioral Assay for Cognitive Functions in Multiple Genetic Models of Alzheimer's Disease, Using IntelliCage

Multiple factors&#8212;such as aging and genes&#8212;are frequently associated with cognitive decline. Genetically modified mouse models of cognitive decline, such as Alzheimer&#39;s disease (AD), have become a promising tool to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and promote the therapeutic advances. An important step is the validation and characterization of expected behavioral abnormality in the models, in the case of AD, cognitive decline. The long-term behavioral investigations of laboratory animals to study the effect of aging demand substantial efforts from researchers. The IntelliCage system is a high-throughput and cost-effective test battery for mice that eliminates the need for daily human handling. Here, we describe how the system is utilized in the long-term phenotyping of a genetic Alzheimer&#39;s disease model, specifically focusing on the cognitive functions. The experiment employs repeated battery of tests that assess spatial learning and executive functions. This cost-effective age-dependent phenotyping allows us to identify the transient and/or permanent effects of genes on various cognitive aspects.

This paper describes a protocol for cognitive assessments for genetic models of the Alzheimer&#39;s disease using the IntelliCage system, which is a high throughput automated behavioral monitoring system with operant conditioning.

基于 IntelliCage 的阿尔茨海默病多基因模型认知功能的自动、长期行为检测

Multiple factors&#8212;such as aging and genes&#8212;are frequently associated with cognitive decline. Genetically modified mouse models of cognitive ...

Simultaneous Monitoring of Wireless Electrophysiology and Memory Behavioral Test as a Tool to Study Hippocampal Neurogenesis

Brainwaves amplitude obtained from electroencephalography (EEG) has been well-recognized as a basis for cognitive capacity, memory, and learning on animals and humans. Adult neurogenesis mechanism is also linked to memory and learning improvement. Traditionally, researchers used to assess learning and memory parameters in rodent models by behavioral tasks. Therefore, the simultaneous monitoring of behavioral changes and EEG is particularly interesting in correlating data between brain activity and task-related behaviors. However, most of the equipment required to perform both studies are either complex, expensive, or uses a wired setup network that hinders the natural animals&#8217; movement. In this study, EEG was recorded with a wireless electrophysiology device along with the execution of a novel object recognition task (NORT). The animal&#8217;s behavior was monitored simultaneously by a video tracking system. Both recordings were analyzed offline by their timestamps which were synched to link EEG signals with the animal&#8217;s actions. Subjects consist of adult Wistar rats after medium-term environmental enrichment treatment. Six skull screw electrodes were fixed in pairs on both hemispheres over frontal, central, and parietal regions and were referenced to an electrode located posterior of the nasal bone. NORT protocol consists of exposing the animal to two identical objects for 10 min. After 2 h and 24 h, one of the objects was replaced with a novel one. Exploration time for each object was monitored by a behavioral tracking software (BTS) and EEG data recording. The analysis of the EEG synced with behavioral data consists of estimations of alpha and beta relative band power and comparisons between novel object recognition versus familiar object exploration, between three experimental stages. In this manuscript, we have discussed electrodes manufacturing process, epidural electrodes implantation surgery, environmental enrichment protocol, NORT protocol, BTS setup, EEG &#8211; BTS coupling for simultaneous monitoring in real-time, and EEG data analysis based on automatic events detection.

The protocol presented here provides information on the simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG) and behavioral assessment in real-time. We have discussed all steps involved in this protocol as an attractive solution for researchers in many fields of neuroscience, particularly in learning and memory areas.

同时监测无线电生理学和记忆行为测试作为研究海马神经发生的工具

Brainwaves amplitude obtained from electroencephalography (EEG) has been well-recognized as a basis for cognitive capacity, memory, and learning on ...

The Innovation Arena: A Method for Comparing Innovative Problem-Solving Across Groups

Problem-solving tasks are commonly used to investigate technical, innovative behavior but a comparison of this ability across a broad range of species is a challenging undertaking. Specific predispositions, such as the morphological toolkit of a species or exploration techniques, can substantially influence performance in such tasks, which makes direct comparisons difficult. The method presented here was developed to be more robust with regard to such species-specific differences: the Innovation Arena presents 20 different problem-solving tasks. All tasks are presented simultaneously. Subjects are confronted with the apparatus repeatedly, which allows a measurement of the emergence of innovations over time - an important next step for investigating how animals can adapt to changing environmental conditions through innovative behavior.
Each individual was tested with the apparatus until it ceased to discover solutions. After testing was concluded, we analyzed the video recordings and coded successful retrieval of rewards and multiple apparatus-directed behaviors. The latter were analyzed using a Principal Component Analysis and the resulting components were then included in a Generalized Linear Mixed Model together with session number and the group comparison of interest to predict the probability of success.
We used this approach in a first study to target the question of whether long-term captivity influences the problem-solving ability of a parrot species known for its innovative behavior: the Goffin&#180;s cockatoo. We found an effect in degree of motivation but no difference in the problem-solving ability between short- and long-term captive groups.

The Innovation Arena is a novel comparative method for studying technical innovation rate per time unit in animals. It is composed of 20 different problem-solving tasks, which are presented simultaneously. Innovations can be carried out freely and the setup is robust with regard to predispositions on an individual, population or species level.

创新竞技场:一种跨群体比较创新问题解决方法的方法

Problem-solving tasks are commonly used to investigate technical, innovative behavior but a comparison of this ability across a broad range of species is ...

Assessment of Mouse Judgment Bias through an Olfactory Digging Task

Judgment biases (JB) are differences in the way that individuals in positive and negative affective/emotional states interpret ambiguous information. This phenomenon has long been observed in humans, with individuals in positive states responding to ambiguity 'optimistically' and those in negative states instead showing 'pessimism'. Researchers aiming to assess animal affect have taken advantage of these differential responses, developing tasks to assess judgment bias as an indicator of affective state. These tasks are becoming increasingly popular across diverse species and fields of research. However, for laboratory mice, the most widely used vertebrates in research and a species heavily relied upon to model affective disorders, only one JB task has been successfully validated as sensitive to changes in affective state. Here, we provide a detailed description of this novel murine JB task, and evidence of its sensitivity to mouse affect. Though refinements are still necessary, assessment of mouse JB opens the door for answering both practical questions regarding mouse welfare, and fundamental questions about the impact of affective state in translational research.

This article provides a detailed description of a novel mouse judgment bias protocol. Evidence of this olfactory digging task's sensitivity to affective state is also demonstrated and its utility across diverse research fields is discussed.

通过嗅觉挖掘任务评估小鼠判断偏差

Judgment biases (JB) are differences in the way that individuals in positive and negative affective/emotional states interpret ambiguous information. This ...