This work is supported by a Baylor University Research Council grant and by a research grant from the Epilepsy Foundation.

在以下实验中使用的成年雄性小鼠产生并容纳在贝勒大学在22℃的环境温度下，用14小时光照和10小时黑暗（20：00至6:00小时）昼夜周期。给予小鼠随意获得食物和水。所有的程序给小鼠均符合的护理和使用实验动物和动物卫生协议指引全国学院是经贝勒大学动物护理和使用委员会。小鼠在上午晚些时候/下午早些时候进行测试。对于研究者下的所有程序，应戴手套，以消除异味，防止污染。 1.准备非社会的气味<ol><li>测试中的每一天准备新鲜的非社会的气味。 注：研究者应使用手套，准备气味。 <ol><li>填3离心管，用10毫升的水每。 </li><li>吸取100μl的香蕉提取物的入15ml＆＃160;锥形管和100μl的杏仁提取物的成第二的15毫升锥形管中以1：100稀释。 注意：第三15ml试管将仅含有水。 </li></ol></li></ol> 2.制备社会的气味<ol><li>准备在上午的测试会出现新的社会气味。从还没有被清理为至少三天，并包含小鼠相等数目两个保持得到社会的气味。获得从性别相同的测试受试者的小鼠社会气味。 注意：这些是要被存储在RT，并应在4-6小时用于维持强烈的和一致的气味。 <ol><li>确定有多少社会气味棉签需要创建：每只小鼠被测试将看到来自社会的气味1，和三个三拭子从社会的气味2。 </li><li>通过在一个肮脏的笼子底部擦拭棉签以Z字形方式编制社会的气味。抖掉多余的被褥抱住一角。 </li><li>商店棉签在大玻璃罐子的盖子或盖上封口膜烧杯。指定一个容器社会气味1和第二社会的气味2。 </li></ol></li><li>保持气味源网箱实验测试室外面。 </li></ol> 3.驯化测试鼠标<ol><li>戴上手套并称重小鼠进行测试并单独放置在一个干净的笼子，顶部的线盖和水瓶除去。 </li><li>让鼠标适应新的笼子45分钟在一个房间以外的检测室。确保有没有在房间里不寻常的气味或噪音。 </li><li>由于测试需要约45分钟，通过将鼠标旁边的错开时间驯化要测试到一个干净的笼子测试当前鼠标前适应的权利。 </li></ol> 4.编写的测试室<ol><li>将新鲜的棉签，实验室带，包含社会气味拭子瓶，n的管上社会的气味，微量，两个定时器和一个废液瓶在试验室的盖子。 </li><li>确保考场是合理的自由气味，大声喧哗，明亮的光线。不要穿带香味的古龙水或洗液。 注意：观察者不应该在测试期间口香糖或糖果，并应尽量限制其暴露在强烈气味的食物。 </li></ol> 5.测试程序<ol><li>把鼠标驯化它在笼中带入考场，并放置在柜台上笼的高度舒适的观看，同时就位。 </li><li>呈现每个气味3次连续，每次2分钟。使用显示顺序，可在表1中找到。 <ol><li>吸移管将50μl加臭剂的气味的被测试到棉棒的前端和重新盖上的气味源。提起笼子的顶部电线插入棉签的无味，木制的一端插入水瓶开盘，推着克通过从金属丝顶端的下侧的长度。避免接触棉签任何东西，包括手指，使异味污染是可以避免的。 </li><li>继续通过水的瓶口画棉签直到大约1英寸的棉花年末下垂入笼。加盖棉签使用实验室磁带笼边的木结束。 注意：小心不要让盖子回落到笼子，造成一个响亮的噪声会干扰测试鼠标。 </li><li>立即开始2分钟时间。用一个定时器时间2分钟演讲。记录花了2分钟，试验期间嗅气味的累计时间。使用单独的秒表计数动物的嗅探行为。主动嗅探定义为当动物的鼻子是面向棉签用它的鼻子〜2 cm或接近尖。 </li><li>在完成每次试验后，抬高电线盖并通过联合国向下拉动取出棉签盖子derside（这避免了气味的污染防止棉尖端接触到导线）。密封在500毫升的废液瓶的使用棉签。 </li><li>准备并插入下棉签，并开始计时。让每一个试验间隔约之间1分钟。继续直到每个气味已被提出的三次连续，对于每次2分钟。 </li></ol></li><li>一旦鼠标已经完成了所有的试验，清空含有用棉签在一个垃圾桶试验室可以在外面的废液瓶。返回鼠标它的笼子。 </li></ol> 6.分析<ol><li>用于使用双向ANOVA，然后进行Newman-Keuls检验或类似的事后检验，以确定显著习惯（更短的时间嗅探连续相同的气味），并且dishabitutation（更多时间嗅探一个新闻），每个组每气味条件分析数据。 </li></ol>

<ol>
	<li>Doty, R. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Odor-guided+behavior+in+mammals.">Odor-guided behavior in mammals.</a> Experientia. 42, 257-271 (1986).</li><li>Restrepo, D., Arellano, J., Oliva, A. M., Schaefer, M. L., Lin, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Emerging+views+on+the+distinct+but+related+roles+of+the+main+and+accessory+olfactory+systems+in+responsiveness+to+chemosensory+signals+in+mice.">Emerging views on the distinct but related roles of the main and accessory olfactory systems in responsiveness to chemosensory signals in mice.</a> Horm Behav. 46, 247-256 (2004).</li><li>Keverne, E. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Importance+of+olfactory+and+vomeronasal+systems+for+male+sexual+function.">Importance of olfactory and vomeronasal systems for male sexual function.</a> Physiol Behav. 83, 177-187 (2004).</li><li>Gregg, B., Thiessen, D. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+simple+method+of+olfactory+discrimination+of+urines+for+the+Mongolian+gerbil,+Meriones+unguiculatus.">A simple method of olfactory discrimination of urines for the Mongolian gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus.</a> Physiol Behav. 26, 1133-1136 (1981).</li><li>Yang, M., Crawley, J. N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Simple+behavioral+assessment+of+mouse+olfaction.">Simple behavioral assessment of mouse olfaction.</a> Curr Protoc Neurosci. Chapter 8 (Unit 8 24), (2009).</li><li>Pan, Y. W., Kuo, C. T., Storm, D. R., Xia, Z. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Inducible+and+targeted+deletion+of+the+ERK5+MAP+kinase+in+adult+neurogenic+regions+impairs+adult+neurogenesis+in+the+olfactory+bulb+and+several+forms+of+olfactory+behavior.">Inducible and targeted deletion of the ERK5 MAP kinase in adult neurogenic regions impairs adult neurogenesis in the olfactory bulb and several forms of olfactory behavior.</a> PLoS ONE. 7, e49622 (2012).</li><li>Wesson, D. W., Levy, E., Nixon, R. A., Wilson, D. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Olfactory+dysfunction+correlates+with+amyloid-beta+burden+in+an+Alzheimer's+disease+mouse+model.">Olfactory dysfunction correlates with amyloid-beta burden in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model.</a> J Neurosci. 30, 505-514 (2010).</li><li>Fadool, D. A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Kv1.3+channel+gene-targeted+deletion+produces+'Super-Smeller+Mice'+with+altered+glomeruli,+interacting+scaffolding+proteins,+and+biophysics.">Kv1.3 channel gene-targeted deletion produces 'Super-Smeller Mice' with altered glomeruli, interacting scaffolding proteins, and biophysics.</a> Neuron. 41, 389-404 (2004).</li><li>Arakawa, H., Arakawa, K., Blanchard, D. C., Blanchard, R. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Scent+marking+behavior+in+male+C57BL/6J+mice:+sexual+and+developmental+determination.">Scent marking behavior in male C57BL/6J mice: sexual and developmental determination.</a> Behav Brain Res. 182, 73-79 (2007).</li><li>Baum, M. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Sexual+differentiation+of+pheromone+processing:+links+to+male-typical+mating+behavior+and+partner+preference.">Sexual differentiation of pheromone processing: links to male-typical mating behavior and partner preference.</a> Horm Behav. 55, 579-588 (2009).</li><li>Ferguson, J. N., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Social+amnesia+in+mice+lacking+the+oxytocin+gene.">Social amnesia in mice lacking the oxytocin gene.</a> Nat Genet. 25, 284-288 (2000).</li><li>Yang, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Low+sociability+in+BTBR+T+tf/J+mice+is+independent+of+partner+strain.">Low sociability in BTBR T+tf/J mice is independent of partner strain.</a> Physiol Behav. 107, 649-662 (2012).</li><li>Best, J. D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Non-associative+learning+in+larval+zebrafish.">Non-associative learning in larval zebrafish.</a> Neuropsychopharmacology. 33, 1206-1215 (2008).</li><li>Wolman, M. A., Jain, R. A., Liss, L., Granato, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Chemical+modulation+of+memory+formation+in+larval+zebrafish.">Chemical modulation of memory formation in larval zebrafish.</a> Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. , (2011).</li><li>Sorge, R. E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Olfactory+exposure+to+males,+including+men,+causes+stress+and+related+analgesia+in+rodents.">Olfactory exposure to males, including men, causes stress and related analgesia in rodents.</a> Nat Methods. 11, 629-632 (2014).</li></ol>

The authors have nothing to disclose.

本文提供的结果是最优的小鼠。小鼠表现出一种新的气味了强烈的反响，然后迅速，观察者。之一，在该方法中的关键步骤是气味的制备。调查人员需要采取非常谨慎，以彼此隔离的气味，以防止污染。另一个重要方面是棉签的呈现。研究者需要解决的棉签的最佳位置，以便鼠标可以调查尖，但不撕裂的尖端。测试的一个重要组成部分是气味的选择。我们提出了三个非社会的气味，但它不会是很?...

小鼠是依赖于嗅觉用于导航新环境，寻找食物，用于识别其它个人，和性行为1-3。重要的是，研究人员建立实验动物是否不管理涉及食品，社会交往，或意在引起从鼠标的响应任何气味行为测试前的嗅觉功能感。嗅觉缺失或无法不同的气味区分，可能会导致在各种行为范例误报或底片，所以其它类型的行为测试之前，执行一个鼠标的检测和辨别气味的能力应该建立。 嗅觉习惯/ dishabituation试验是在20世纪80年代4首先描述。测试已适应于由Drs小鼠使用。穆押嗯和杰奎琳·克劳利5。这是一种简单而廉价的测试，允许调查者ESTAblish一个鼠标可以检测和气味区分。除了测试嗅觉，该测试允许研究者观察小鼠的一般行为，应在测试方案的早期完成。关于鼠标的运动定性观察，焦虑的迹象，活动水平，并回应社会对气味的食物的气味可能预示着在测试可能进行的新领域。 在该试验中，浸入各种气味棉签呈现给小鼠三次在一排。与每个重复介绍的气味，将鼠标，观察者向棉棒，花费更少的时间与每个随后呈现调查它。当一个新的气味呈现，dishabituation发生，并且一个典型的鼠标会花费更多的时间来调查拭子，这表明它可在当前和以前的气味5区分。此测试被施用给一只小鼠在一时间，并包括45分钟ACClimation期间随后测试45分钟。 虽然这个测试很容易进行可能被用于调查有关鼠标的嗅觉系统的复杂问题。嗅觉的其他流行的测试，如掩埋食品测试，简单地建立嗅觉缺失的存在或不存在。然而，嗅觉辨别和习惯测试允许研究者确定鼠标不仅具有检测气味，但不同的气味之间可以区分的能力。习惯和dishabituation的格局已被用于建立新的突变体6,7气味区分。在一个令人惊讶的研究，Fadool及其同事利用气味的复杂混合物，表明小鼠基因靶向删除的Kv1.3通道都“的嗅觉超级”，可以区分非常相似的气味比正常老鼠更8。 当检查了新的基因敲除小鼠模型是有用的establis^ h的正常行为存在基本的感官任务。当早期的测试方案完成后，气味辨别和习惯测试给出了一个调查员有机会观察到任何异常行为。这些观察结果可以防止在随后的测试假阳性或阴性结果归因于混淆的突变体的特征。研究人员继续调查社会行为，需要验证基本的嗅觉功能变得越来越重要。除了检查嗅觉在突变系，这种测试可用于解决特定的问题，例如一个药物治疗是否特异性增加动物的响应社会刺激气味，或者如果它们的反应增大到所有刺激气味。

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Mouse cage</td>
			<td>Allentown</td>
			<td>Standard mouse cage</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td rowspan="2">Wire lid</td>
			<td rowspan="2">Allentown</td>
			<td>BCU Mouse WBL 2500</td>
			<td rowspan="2"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bedding</td>
			<td>Harlan</td>
			<td>7090 Sani-Chips</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cotton swabs</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>89031-270</td>
			<td>6&#8221; wooden handle</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Banana extract</td>
			<td>McCormick</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Almond extract</td>
			<td>McCormick</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Laboratory tape</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>89098-062</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Stop watch</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>62374-000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nitrile gloves</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>82026</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Timing device</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>61161-350</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>15 mL conical tubes</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>89003-294</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2 L beakers&#160;</td>
			<td>Pyrex</td>
			<td align="right">1003</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Parafilm</td>
			<td>Parafilm</td>
			<td>PM-992</td>
			<td>4&#8221; x 250&#8217;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1 L bottle with cap</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>89000-240</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

testing for odor discrimination and habituation in mice

This video demonstrates a technique to establish the presence of a normally functioning olfactory system in a mouse. The test helps determine whether the mouse can discriminate between non-social odors and social odors, whether the mouse habituates to a repeatedly presented odor, and whether the mouse demonstrates dishabituation when presented with a novel odor. Since many social behavior tests measure the experimental animal&#8217;s response to a familiar or novel mouse, false positives can be avoided by establishing that the animals can detect and discriminate between social odors. There are similar considerations in learning tests such as fear conditioning that use odor to create a novel environment or olfactory cues as an associative stimulus. Deficits in the olfactory system would impair the ability to distinguish between contexts and to form an association with an olfactory cue during fear conditioning. 
In the odor habitation/dishabituation test, the mouse is repeatedly presented with several odors. Each odor is presented three times for two minutes. The investigator records the sniffing time directed towards the odor as the measurement of olfactory responsiveness. A typical mouse shows a decrease in response to the odor over repeated presentations (habituation). The experimenter then presents a novel odor that elicits increased sniffing towards the new odor (dishabituation). After repeated presentation of the novel odor the animal again shows habituation. This protocol involves the presentation of water, two or more non-social odors, and two social odors. In addition to reducing experimental confounds, this test can provide information on the function of the olfactory systems of new knockout, knock-in, and conditional knockout mouse lines.

以下描述的方案，结果是使用10个成人（90-120日龄）的雄性C57BL / 6J小鼠和八个雄性FVB混合背景品系（50-70日龄）记录。测试如下进行多天的单一研究者。图形上的每个点代表花费调查气味的平均时间。 当第一次引入的棉签浸渍在水，小鼠花费了大量的时间调查这个新物体（ 图1：前三个数据点）。随着每个连续的演讲，更少的时间花在调查棉签，表示习惯。当一?...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Testing for Odor Discrimination and Habituation in Mice at JoVE.com

Testing for Odor Discrimination and Habituation in Mice

This manuscript describes a protocol to examine the olfactory system of rodents. The olfactory habituation/dishabituation test will allow investigators to determine whether a mouse habituates to a repeatedly presented odor and whether the mouse demonstrates dishabituation when presented a novel odor.

在小鼠试验的气味辨别和习惯化

This video demonstrates a technique to establish the presence of a normally functioning olfactory system in a mouse. The test helps determine whether the ...

testing-for-odor-discrimination-and-habituation-in-mice

Research

JoVE Journal

Behavior

17.5K 次观看.  Baylor University. This manuscript describes a protocol to examine the olfactory system of rodents. The olfactory habituation/dishabituation test will allow investigators to determine whether a mouse habituates to a repeatedly presented odor and whether the mouse demonstrates dishabituation when presented a novel odor. 

视频: Testing for Odor Discrimination and Habituation in Mice

Contextual and Cued Fear Conditioning Test Using a Video Analyzing System in Mice

The contextual and cued fear conditioning test is one of the behavioral tests that assesses the ability of mice to learn and remember an association between environmental cues and aversive experiences. In this test, mice are placed into a conditioning chamber and are given parings of a conditioned stimulus (an auditory cue) and an aversive unconditioned stimulus (an electric footshock). After a delay time, the mice are exposed to the same conditioning chamber and a differently shaped chamber with presentation of the auditory cue. Freezing behavior during the test is measured as an index of fear memory. To analyze the behavior automatically, we have developed a video analyzing system using the ImageFZ application software program, which is available as a free download at http://www.mouse-phenotype.org/. Here, to show the details of our protocol, we demonstrate our procedure for the contextual and cued fear conditioning test in C57BL/6J mice using the ImageFZ system. In addition, we validated our protocol and the video analyzing system performance by comparing freezing time measured by the ImageFZ system or a photobeam-based computer measurement system with that scored by a human observer. As shown in our representative results, the data obtained by ImageFZ were similar to those analyzed by a human observer, indicating that the behavioral analysis using the ImageFZ system is highly reliable. The present movie article provides detailed information regarding the test procedures and will promote understanding of the experimental situation.

This article presents a protocol for a contextual and cued fear conditioning test using a video analyzing system to assess fear learning and memory in mice.

背景和线索恐惧制约试验小鼠中使用视频分析系统

The contextual and cued fear conditioning test is one of the behavioral tests that assesses the ability of mice to learn and remember an association ...

科研

行为学

Barnes Maze Testing Strategies with Small and Large Rodent Models

Spatial learning and memory of laboratory rodents is often assessed via navigational ability in mazes, most popular of which are the water and dry-land (Barnes) mazes. Improved performance over sessions or trials is thought to reflect learning and memory of the escape cage/platform location. Considered less stressful than water mazes, the Barnes maze is a relatively simple design of a circular platform top with several holes equally spaced around the perimeter edge. All but one of the holes are false-bottomed or blind-ending, while one leads to an escape cage. Mildly aversive stimuli (e.g.&#160;bright overhead lights) provide motivation to locate the escape cage. Latency to locate the escape cage can be measured during the session; however, additional endpoints typically require video recording. From those video recordings, use of automated tracking software can generate a variety of endpoints that are similar to those produced in water mazes (e.g.&#160;distance traveled, velocity/speed, time spent in the correct quadrant, time spent moving/resting, and confirmation of latency). Type of search strategy (i.e.&#160;random, serial, or direct) can be categorized as well. Barnes maze construction and testing methodologies can differ for small rodents, such as mice, and large rodents, such as rats. For example, while extra-maze cues are effective for rats, smaller wild rodents may require intra-maze cues with a visual barrier around the maze. Appropriate stimuli must be identified which motivate the rodent to locate the escape cage. Both Barnes and water mazes can be time consuming as 4-7 test trials are typically required to detect improved learning and memory performance (e.g.&#160;shorter latencies or path lengths to locate the escape platform or cage) and/or differences between experimental groups. Even so, the Barnes maze is a widely employed behavioral assessment measuring spatial navigational abilities and their potential disruption by genetic, neurobehavioral manipulations, or drug/ toxicant exposure.

The dry-land Barnes maze is widely used to measure spatial navigation ability in response to mildly aversive stimuli. Over consecutive days, performance (e.g.&#160;latency to locate escape cage) of control subjects improves, indicative of normal learning and memory. Differences between rats and mice necessitate apparatus and methodology changes that are detailed here.

巴恩斯迷宫测试策略与小型和大型啮齿类动物模型

Spatial learning and memory of laboratory rodents is often assessed via navigational ability in mazes, most popular of which are the water and dry-land ...

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 ...

Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

In addition to impairments in social communication and the presence of restricted interests and repetitive behaviors, deficits in sensory processing are now recognized as a core symptom in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Our ability to perceive and interact with the external world is rooted in sensory processing. For example, listening to a conversation entails processing the auditory cues coming from the speaker (speech content, prosody, syntax) as well as the associated visual information (facial expressions, gestures). Collectively, the &#8220;integration&#8221; of these multisensory (i.e., combined audiovisual) pieces of information results in better comprehension. Such multisensory integration has been shown to be strongly dependent upon the temporal relationship of the paired stimuli. Thus, stimuli that occur in close temporal proximity are highly likely to result in behavioral and perceptual benefits &#8211; gains believed to be reflective of the perceptual system&#39;s judgment of the likelihood that these two stimuli came from the same source. Changes in this temporal integration are expected to strongly alter perceptual processes, and are likely to diminish the ability to accurately perceive and interact with our world. Here, a battery of tasks designed to characterize various aspects of sensory and multisensory temporal processing in children with ASD is described. In addition to its utility in autism, this battery has great potential for characterizing changes in sensory function in other clinical populations, as well as being used to examine changes in these processes across the lifespan.

We describe how to implement a battery of behavioral tasks to examine the processing and integration of sensory stimuli in children with ASD. The goal is to characterize individual differences in temporal processing of simple auditory and visual stimuli and relate these to higher order perceptual skills like speech perception.

测试儿童的感官和多感官功能自闭症谱系障碍

In addition to impairments in social communication and the presence of restricted interests and repetitive behaviors, deficits in sensory processing are ...

Morris Water Maze Test: Optimization for Mouse Strain and Testing Environment

The Morris water maze (MWM) is a commonly used task to assess hippocampal-dependent spatial learning and memory in transgenic mouse models of disease, including neurocognitive disorders such as Alzheimer&#8217;s disease. However, the background strain of the mouse model used can have a substantial effect on the observed behavioral phenotype, with some strains exhibiting superior learning ability relative to others. To ensure differences between transgene negative and transgene positive mice can be detected, identification of a training procedure sensitive to the background strain is essential. Failure to tailor the MWM protocol to the background strain of the mouse model may lead to under- or over- training, thereby masking group differences in probe trials. Here, a MWM protocol tailored for use with the F1 FVB/N x 129S6 background is described. This is a frequently used background strain to study the age-dependent effects of mutant P301L tau (rTg(TauP301L)4510 mice) on the memory deficits associated with Alzheimer&#8217;s disease. Also described is a strategy to re-optimize, as dictated by the particular testing environment utilized.

This manuscript describes a Morris water maze (MWM) protocol tailored for use with a commonly used mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. The MWM is widely used in transgenic mouse models. Implementation of a procedure sensitive to the background strain of the mouse model is essential for detecting group differences.

Morris水迷宫实验：优化小鼠品系和测试环境

 The Morris water maze (MWM) is a commonly used task to assess hippocampal-dependent spatial learning and memory in transgenic mouse models of disease, ...

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 ...

Simple and Computer-assisted Olfactory Testing for Mice

Olfaction is highly conserved among species and is required for reproduction and survival.
In humans, olfaction is also one of the senses that is affected with aging and is a strong predictor of neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, olfaction testing is used as a non-invasive diagnostic method to detect neurological deficits early on. In order to understand the mechanisms underlying olfactory network susceptibility, olfactory research in rodents has gained momentum in the past decade.
Here, we present a very simple, time efficient and reproducible olfactory testing method of innate odor perception and sensitivity in mice without the need of any prior food or water restriction. The tests are performed in a familiar environment to the mice, require only the scents and a 2 min session of odorant exposure. The analysis is performed, post-hoc, using computer-assisted commands on ImageJ and can be, therefore, carried out from start to end by one researcher.
This protocol does not require any special hardware or setup and is indicated for any laboratory interested in testing olfactory perception and sensitivity.

We present a simple and unbiased olfactory test in mice. With this protocol olfactory discrimination, preference, avoidance and sensitivity to a novel odor as compared to water can be assessed in single behavioral sessions. This method is indicated for a single experimenter and analysis is based on computer-assisted video processing.

简单和计算机辅助测试嗅觉的小鼠

Olfaction is highly conserved among species and is required for reproduction and survival.
In humans, olfaction is also one of the senses that is affected ...

Testing for Metacognitive Responding Using an Odor-based Delayed Match-to-Sample Test in Rats

Metamemory involves the cognitive ability to assess the strength of one&#39;s memories. To explore the possibility of metamemory in non-human animals, numerous behavioral tasks have been created, many of which utilize an option to decline memory tests. To assess metamemory in rats, we utilized this decline-test option paradigm by adapting previous visual delayed-match-to-sample tests (DMTS)1,2 developed for primate species to an odor-based test suitable for rodents. First,&#160;rats are given a sample to remember by digging in a cup of scented sand. After a delay, the rat is presented with four distinctly scented cups, one of which contains the identical scent experienced during the sample; if this matching cup is selected, then the rat obtains a preferred, larger reward. Selection of any of the other three non-matching sand-filled scented cups results in no reward. Retention intervals are individually titrated such that subjects perform between 40 and 70% correct, therefore ensuring rats sometimes remember and sometimes forget the sample. Here, the operational definition of metamemory is the ability to distinguish between the presence and absence of memory through behavioral responding. Towards this end, on two-thirds of trials, a decline option is presented in addition to the four choice cups (choice trials). If the decline-test option- an unscented colored sand cup, is selected, the subject receives a smaller less-preferred reward and avoids the memory test. On the remaining third of trials, the decline-test option is not available (forced trials), causing subjects to guess the correct cup when the sample is forgotten. On choice tests, subjects that know when they remember should select the decline option when memory is weak rather than take the test and choose incorrectly. Therefore, significantly higher performance on chosen tests as compared to forced memory tests is indicative of the adaptive use of the decline-test response and metacognitive responding.

This protocol describes a method for investigating the possibility of metamemory, or memory awareness, in rodents. The odor-based delayed-matching-to-sample paradigm is a novel, ecologically-relevant behavioral test useful for determining the extent to which rodents can adaptively respond based on cognitively monitoring the strength of their memory states.

用基于气味的延迟配对试验对大鼠元认知应答的测试

Metamemory involves the cognitive ability to assess the strength of one&#39;s memories. To explore the possibility of metamemory in non-human animals, ...

Measuring Active and Passive Tameness Separately in Mice

Domesticated animals such as dogs and laboratory mice show a high level of tameness, which is important for humans to handle them easily. Tameness has two behavioral components: a reluctance to avoid humans (passive tameness) and a motivation to approach humans (active tameness). To quantify these components in mice, we previously developed behavioral tests for active tameness, passive tameness, and the willingness to stay on a human hand, each designed to be completed within 3 min. The data obtained were used for selective breeding, with a large number of mice analyzed per generation. The active tameness test measures the movement of the mouse toward a human hand and the contact it engages in. The passive tameness test measures the duration of time that a mouse tolerates human touch. In the stay-on-hand test, a mouse is placed on a human hand and touched slowly using the thumb of that hand; the duration of time that the animal remains on the hand is measured. Here, we describe the test set-up and apparatus, explain the procedures, and discuss the appropriate data analysis. Finally, we explain how to interpret the results.

Tameness in animals includes a reduction of avoidance responses to humans (passive tameness) and an increase in active approaches to humans (active tameness). Here, we describe detailed protocols for three behavioral tests (active tameness, passive tameness, and stay-on-hand tests) to separately measure the active and passive tameness of mice.

小鼠主动和被动驯服的测定

Domesticated animals such as dogs and laboratory mice show a high level of tameness, which is important for humans to handle them easily. Tameness has two ...

A Wind Tunnel for Odor Mediated Insect Behavioural Assays

Olfaction is the most important sensory mechanism by which many insects interact with their environment and a wind tunnel is an excellent tool to study insect chemical ecology. Insects can locate point sources in a three-dimensional environment through the sensory interaction and sophisticated behavior. The quantification of this behavior is a key element in the development of new tools for pest control and decision support. A wind tunnel with a suitable flight section with laminar air flow, visual cues for in-flight feedback and a variety of options for the application of odors can be used to measure complex behaviour which subsequently may allow the identification of attractive or repellent odors, insect flight characteristics, visual-odor interactions and interactions between attractants and odors lingering as background odors in the environment. A wind tunnel holds the advantage of studying the odor mediated behavioural repertoire of an insect in a laboratory setting. Behavioural measures in a controlled setting provide the link between the insect physiology and field application. A wind tunnel must be a flexible tool and should easily support the changes to setup and hardware to fit different research questions. The major disadvantage to the wind tunnel setup described here, is the clean odor background which necessitates special attention when developing a synthetic volatile blend for field application.

Here, we describe the construction and use of a wind tunnel for odor mediated behavioural assays with insects. The wind tunnel design facilitates the release of odor sources by several methods, with and without visual stimuli. Wind tunnel experiments are important methods to identify behaviorally active volatile chemicals.

气味介导的昆虫行为检测风洞

Olfaction is the most important sensory mechanism by which many insects interact with their environment and a wind tunnel is an excellent tool to study ...