Name: assessment of social transmission of food preferences behaviors
Uploaded: 2018-01-25T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Assessment of Social Transmission of Food Preferences Behaviors at JoVE.com

Research supported by FWO postdoctoral fellowship to AVdJ. The authors would like to thank Leen Van Aerschot and Ilse Bloemen for their technical support.

All protocols have been reviewed and approved by the animal experiments committee of the University of Leuven, Belgium, and were carried out in accordance with the European Community Council Directive (86/609/EEC).
1. Equipment, Apparatus, and Room Set Up:
<ol>
	<li>Prepare a Crawley&#39;s three-chamber box23 which consists of three chambers (19 x 45 cm, height 30 cm) with transparent dividing walls allowing free access to each chamber.</li>
	<li>Utilize two food cups...

<ol>
	<li>Nordin, S., Murphy, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Odor+memory+in+normal+aging+and+Alzheimer's+disease.">Odor memory in normal aging and Alzheimer's disease.</a> Ann Ny Acad Sci. 855, 686-693 (1998).</li><li>Devanand, D. P., 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+deficits+in+patients+with+mild+cognitive+impairment+predict+Alzheimer's+disease+at+follow-up.">Olfactory deficits in patients with mild cognitive impairment predict Alzheimer's disease at follow-up.</a> Am J Psychiat. 157 (9), 1399-1405 (2000).</li><li>Peters, J. M., Hummel, T., Kratzsch, T., L&#246;tsch, J., Skarke, C., Fr&#246;lich, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Olfactory+function+in+mild+cognitive+impairment+and+Alzheimer's+disease:+an+investigation+using+psychophysical+and+electrophysiological+techniques.">Olfactory function in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease: an investigation using psychophysical and electrophysiological techniques.</a> Am J Psychiat. 160 (11), 1995-2002 (2003).</li><li>Bahar-Fuchs, A., Moss, S., Rowe, C., Savage, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Awareness+of+olfactory+deficits+in+healthy+aging,+amnestic+mild+cognitive+impairment+and+Alzheimer's+disease.">Awareness of olfactory deficits in healthy aging, amnestic mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease.</a> Int Psychogeriatr. 23 (7), 1097-1106 (2011).</li><li>Serby, M., Larson, P., Kalkstein, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+nature+and+course+of+olfactory+deficits+in+Alzheimer's+disease.">The nature and course of olfactory deficits in Alzheimer's disease.</a> Am J Psychiat. 148 (3), 357-360 (1991).</li><li>Hidalgo, J., Chopard, G., Galmiche, J., Jacquot, L., Brand, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Just+noticeable+difference+in+olfaction:+discriminative+tool+between+healthy+elderly+andpatients+with+cognitive+disorders+associated+with+dementia.">Just noticeable difference in olfaction: discriminative tool between healthy elderly andpatients with cognitive disorders associated with dementia.</a> Rhinology. 49 (5), 513-518 (2011).</li><li>S&#225;nchez-Andrade, G., James, B. M., Kendrick, K. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neural+encoding+of+olfactory+recognition+memory.">Neural encoding of olfactory recognition memory.</a> J Reprod Develop. 51 (5), 547-558 (2005).</li><li>Galef, B. G., Wigmore, S. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transfer+of+information+concerning+distant+foods:+A+laboratory+investigation+of+the+'information-centre'+hypothesis.">Transfer of information concerning distant foods: A laboratory investigation of the 'information-centre' hypothesis.</a> Anim Behav. 31, 748-758 (1983).</li><li>Galef, B. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Social+interaction+modifies+learned+aversions,+sodium+appetite,+and+both+palatability+and+handling-time+induced+dietary+preference+in+rats+(Rattus+norvegicus).">Social interaction modifies learned aversions, sodium appetite, and both palatability and handling-time induced dietary preference in rats (Rattus norvegicus).</a> J Comp Psychol. 100 (4), 432-439 (1986).</li><li>Galef, B. G., Kennett, D. J., Stein, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Demonstrator+influence+on+observer+diet+preference:+Effects+of+simple+exposure+and+the+presence+of+a+demonstrator.">Demonstrator influence on observer diet preference: Effects of simple exposure and the presence of a demonstrator.</a> Anim Learn Behav. 13, 25-30 (1985).</li><li>Galef, B. G., Kennett, D. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Different+mechanisms+for+social+transmission+of+diet+preference+in+rat+pups+of+different+ages.">Different mechanisms for social transmission of diet preference in rat pups of different ages.</a> Dev Psychobiol. 20 (2), 209-215 (1987).</li><li>Galef, B. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Enduring+social+enhancement+of+rats'+preferences+for+the+palatable+and+the+piquant.">Enduring social enhancement of rats' preferences for the palatable and the piquant.</a> Appetite. 13, 81-92 (1989).</li><li>Bunsey, M., Eichenbaum, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Selective+damage+to+the+hippocampal+region+blocks+long-term+retention+of+a+natural+and+nonspatial+stimulus-stimulus+association.">Selective damage to the hippocampal region blocks long-term retention of a natural and nonspatial stimulus-stimulus association.</a> Hippocampus. 5 (6), 546-556 (1995).</li><li>Mayeux-Portas, V., File, S. E., Stewart, C. L., Morris, 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=Mice+lacking+the+cell+adhesion+molecule+Thy-1+fail+to+use+socially+transmitted+cues+to+direct+their+choice+of+food.">Mice lacking the cell adhesion molecule Thy-1 fail to use socially transmitted cues to direct their choice of food.</a> Curr Biol. 10 (2), 68-75 (2000).</li><li>McFarlane, H. G., Kusek, G. K., Yang, M., Phoenix, J. L., Bolivar, V. J., 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=Autism-like+behavioral+phenotypes+in+BTBR+T+tf/J+mice.">Autism-like behavioral phenotypes in BTBR T+tf/J mice.</a> Genes Brain Behav. 7 (2), 152-163 (2008).</li><li>Van der Jeugd, 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=Hippocampal+tauopathy+in+tau+transgenic+mice+coincides+with+impaired+hippocampus-dependent+learning+and+memory,+and+attenuated+late-phase+long-term+depression+of+synaptic+transmission.">Hippocampal tauopathy in tau transgenic mice coincides with impaired hippocampus-dependent learning and memory, and attenuated late-phase long-term depression of synaptic transmission.</a> Neurobiol Learn Mem. 95 (3), 296-304 (2011).</li><li>Koss, D. J., 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=Mutant+Tau+knock-in+mice+display+frontotemporal+dementia+relevant+behaviour+and+histopathology.">Mutant Tau knock-in mice display frontotemporal dementia relevant behaviour and histopathology.</a> Neurobiol Dis. 91, 105-123 (2016).</li><li>Vale-Mart&#237;nez, A., Baxter, M. G., Eichenbaum, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Selective+lesions+of+basal+forebrain+cholinergic+neurons+produce+anterograde+and+retrograde+deficits+in+a+social+transmission+of+food+preference+task+in+rats.">Selective lesions of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons produce anterograde and retrograde deficits in a social transmission of food preference task in rats.</a> Eur J Neurosci. 16 (6), 983-998 (2002).</li><li>Ross, R. S., McGaughy, J., Eichenbaum, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Acetylcholine+in+the+orbitofrontal+cortex+is+necessary+for+the+acquisition+of+a+socially+transmittedfood+preference.">Acetylcholine in the orbitofrontal cortex is necessary for the acquisition of a socially transmittedfood preference.</a> Learn Memory. 12 (3), 302-306 (2005).</li><li>Mu, Y., 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. 8, 24-34 (2009).</li><li>Hardy, J. A., Higgins, G. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Alzheimer's+disease:+the+amyloid+cascade+hypothesis.">Alzheimer's disease: the amyloid cascade hypothesis.</a> Science. 256 (5054), 184-185 (1992).</li><li>Radde, R., 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=ABeta42+driven+cerebral+amyloidosis+in+transgenic+mice+reveals+early+and+robust+pathology.">ABeta42 driven cerebral amyloidosis in transgenic mice reveals early and robust pathology.</a> EMBO Rep. 7 (9), 940-946 (2006).</li><li>Nadler, J. J., 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=Automated+apparatus+for+quantification+of+social+behaviors+in+mice.">Automated apparatus for quantification of social behaviors in mice.</a> Genes Brain Behav. 3 (5), 303-314 (2004).</li><li>Galef, B. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Imitation+in+animals:+history,+definition,+and+interpretation+of+data+from+the+psychological+laboratory.">Imitation in animals: history, definition, and interpretation of data from the psychological laboratory.</a> Social learning: psychological and biological perspectives. , (1988).</li><li>Pulliam, H. R., Melgren, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=On+the+theory+of+gene-culture+co-evolution+in+a+variable+environment.">On the theory of gene-culture co-evolution in a variable environment.</a> Animal cognition and behavior. , 427-443 (1983).</li><li>Wrenn, C. C., Harris, A. P., Saavedra, M. C., 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=Social+transmission+of+food+preference+in+mice:+Methodology+and+application+to+galanin-overexpressing+transgenic+mice.">Social transmission of food preference in mice: Methodology and application to galanin-overexpressing transgenic mice.</a> Behav Neurosci. 117 (1), 21-31 (2003).</li><li>Singh, A., Kumar, S., Singh, V. P., Das, A., Balaji, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Flavor+Dependent+Retention+of+Remote+Food+Preference+Memory.">Flavor Dependent Retention of Remote Food Preference Memory.</a> Front Behav Neurosci. 2 (11), 7-17 (2017).</li><li>Kazdoba, T. M., Leach, P. T., 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=Behavioral+phenotypes+of+genetic+mouse+models+of+autism.">Behavioral phenotypes of genetic mouse models of autism.</a> Genes Brain Behav. 15 (1), 7-26 (2006).</li><li>Riedel, G., Kang, S. H., Choi, D. Y., Platt, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Scopolamine-induced+deficits+in+social+memory+in+mice:+reversal+by+donepezil.">Scopolamine-induced deficits in social memory in mice: reversal by donepezil.</a> Behav Brain Res. 204 (1), 217-225 (2009).</li><li>Naert, 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=Behavioural+alterations+relevant+to+developmental+brain+disorders+in+mice+with+neonatallyinduced+ventral+hippocampal+lesions.">Behavioural alterations relevant to developmental brain disorders in mice with neonatallyinduced ventral hippocampal lesions.</a> Brain Res Bull. 94, 71-81 (2013).</li></ol>

An animal behavioral repertoire can be broadly tracked back to four basic reasons, locating food and water, avoiding predators, socially interacting, and reproducing. Implementation of a behavioral pattern produced by one individual of a social group that directly promotes adoption and exhibition by another is coined social transmission24. This kind of behavior can profoundly impact a species&#39; ecology because behavior initiated by (some) individual(s) may quickly extend out to others in the so...

Olfactory recognition deficits are suggested to serve as clinical marker to differentiate Alzheimer&#39;s disease (AD) subjects from normal aging groups1,2,3,4. A range of neuropsychiatric disorders are characterized by disturbances in olfactory recognition and memory, including AD and Parkinson&#39;s5,6. Several behavioral tests and protocols have been established to assess olfactory recognition and discrimination in animal models7. As such, translational research using appropriate and validated animal models and tests for olfactory memory may advance better diagnosis and treatment for neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, the social transmission of food preference (STFP) test that was originally invented in the early 80&#39;s8 was adapted. In this task, animals are evaluated on their innate ability to learn about food safety from their conspecifics. Underlying select-reject decision, processes involve assessment of the sensory characteristics of the food and an animal must be able to review and ingrate different features (i.e., taste and odor).
The STFP test consists of a rather simple phenomenon: after interaction of the naive &#39;observer&#39; rodent with a &#39;demonstrator&#39; that previously consumed a food, the observer normally demonstrates a greater preference for this food8,9,10. Analyzing necessary conditions resulting in this preference, showed that direct subject &#8211; demonstrator exposure (eaten or dusted with a food) is enough to boost the observer&#39;s preference. However, purely smelling nor eating a food are not sufficient to induce this type of preference11,12.
The STFP protocol consists of four steps over five days. The first step consists of increasing the motivation of the animals to make them eat a novel food. To do so, all rodents are put on a 23-h, food-deprivation schedule, receiving regular chow for 1 h/day for two consecutive days. In the second step, the priming phase, each demonstrator is provided for 1 h with food containing a novel flavor (chow mixed with either cocoa or cinnamon in the original experiments). In the third step, the social interaction phase, each demonstrator is placed into the cage of a subject observer rodent for 30 min. In the fourth step, 24 h after the social interaction, each subject is offered the choice of both flavored diets. The observer&#39;s intake of both foods and preference percentages of both diets eaten by the subject are assessed.
Selective neurotoxic lesions of hippocampus-subiculum are shown to impair performance on this task13. Also, mutations affecting hippocampal function in mice have been reported to prevent food preferences14,15,16,17. Importantly, STFP performance does not exclusively rely on proper hippocampal functioning. It was reported in several pharmacological, genetic manipulations, and lesion studies that other brain structures beside hippocampus may play a role in mediating different aspects of socially-induced diet choice learning and memory. For instance, cholinergic neurons of the medial septum/vertical limb of the diagonal band or nucleus basalis magnocellularis/substantia innominata are suggested to possess different roles in acquiring and retrieving non-spatial social memory of olfactory cues18. Furthermore, orbitofrontal cortex has been implicated in odor-guided learning, and cholinergic depletion of the entire neocortex resulted in STFP deficits, indicating that these brain regions are essential for this type of associative learning19.
Possible confounding factors were avoided as much as possible, such as spreading of the odors or dragging of the food outside the cups. An additional habituation step to the apparatus and a supplementary test before the actual STFP task were added, to assess if the rodents can actually smell and are willing to eat novel foods, the buried cookie test20. Also, by including automated video-tracking, the time spent exploring both the demonstrator during the social interaction as well as the food during the test phase could also be measured. The exploration of the path for each subject is recorded using a camera connected to a video tracking-software equipped computer. As such, different aspects of exploration performance, such as time in each zone, and number of zone visits can be calculated. This gives more detailed information about the animals&#39; activity during the test phase, besides the amount of consumed food as in the original STFP protocol.
In previous experiments with an AD mouse model, the THY-Tau22 model, it was found that impairment in this STFP memory from the age of 9-10 months could be picked up, and these co-occurred with deficits in hippocampal synaptic plasticity and tau pathology in the hippocampus16. Since tau pathology occurs late in disease progression, according to the amyloid cascade hypothesis after the disposition of amyloidal plaques21, it was hypothesized that STFP deficits could be detected at an earlier age in amyloid transgenic mice. Therefore, the STFP test was applied in 3 months old APP/PS1 mice22, the most common used model of AD. This type of socially-induced food choice was indeed found to be impaired in the APP/PS1 mice. It is important that these mice, at least at this age, were devoid of general olfactory, locomotor, or social exploration impairments. To conclude, olfactory recognition dysfunction could be an important early screening method for AD in humans and mice alike. This reliable, cheap and easy screening for early AD could be useful for therapeutic research. If we could screen for early AD more effectively, we could interfere earlier on in the disease process.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>3-chamber apparatus</td>
			<td>custom made</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>19 x 45 cm, height 30 cm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>wire cages to hold mouse</td>
			<td>custom made</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>diameter of 12 cm, height 10 cm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ramp to hold food cup</td>
			<td>custom made</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>10 x 10 cm, height 7 cm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>food cups</td>
			<td>sunlessbody via ebay</td>
			<td>http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Plastic-Sample-Jars-Pots-Cups-Containers-with-Hinged-Lid-x-200-Small-25ml-/251708415240</td>
			<td>diameter of 3.8 cm, height 3.2 cm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>lux meter</td>
			<td>Volcraft</td>
			<td>BL-10 L 0 - 40000 lx</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>paprika herb</td>
			<td>Delhaize</td>
			<td>ID:716703</td>
			<td>Gemalen paprika,| 40 g</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>celery herb</td>
			<td>Delhaize</td>
			<td>ID:716301</td>
			<td>Selderzout, 57 g</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>vide-tracking software</td>
			<td>Ethovision (Noldus)</td>
			<td>http://www.noldus.com/animal-behavior-research/products/ethovision-xt</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td>ANYmaze (Stoelting)</td>
			<td>https://www.stoeltingco.com/any-maze-video-tracking-software-1218.html</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

assessment of social transmission of food preferences behaviors

Olfactory recognition deficits are suggested to be able to serve as clinical marker to differentiate Alzheimer&#39;s disease (AD) subjects from healthy aging groups. For example, olfactory dysfunction in AD can present as impairment in olfactory recognition, emerging during early stages of the disease and worsening while the disease progresses. The social transmission of food preferences (STFP) task is based on a rudimentary form of communication between rodents concerning distant foods dependent on the transmission of olfactory cues. Healthy wild-type mice would prefer to eat a novel, flavored food that was previously cued by a conspecific, and this food preference would be hampered in transgenic AD mice, such as the APP/PS1 model. Indeed, a strong preference for the cued food in C57Bl6/J mice of 3 months of age was found, and this was reduced in 3 months old transgenic APP/PS1 mice. In summary, STFP task could be a powerful measure to be integrated in present subclinical detection assays of AD.

An example of the social exploration phase is shown in Figure 1A-B. This phase allows estimation of social exploration of the subject mouse with the demonstrator mouse that just consumed a flavored food. In the original protocol, mice were allowed to explore each other freely. In the protocol described in this paper, the demonstrator mouse was contained in a wire cup allowing nose and ano-genital contact. Also, the arena where the mice encoun...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Assessment of Social Transmission of Food Preferences Behaviors at JoVE.com

Assessment of Social Transmission of Food Preferences Behaviors

This paper presents a protocol for the investigation of social transmission of food preference in mice. The advantages and possible applications for this procedure, for instance, in detecting early changes in AD mouse models, are highlighted. To conclude, interpretation of the results in light of critical details are discussed.

Olfactory recognition deficits are suggested to be able to serve as clinical marker to differentiate Alzheimer&#39;s disease (AD) subjects from healthy ...

The overall goal of this procedure is to assess the power of the social transmission of food preferences for the study of socially induced olfactory memory, and the detection of Alzheimer's disease. These methods can help answer key questions in the behavioral neuroscience field, such as how do rodents communicate to others or transmit olfactory cues. This technique has the potential for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease as olfactory cognition dysfunction during early stages of the disease, may be useful for the detection of Alzheimer's.Before beginning the social transmission of food preferences, or STFP procedure, bury a chocolate chip cookie in a random corner of a clean individual housing cage approximately one centimeter beneath the bedding surface and place the observer mouse into the cage. Record the latency to find the cookie with a 15 minute cutoff to rule out olfaction detection deficits and to prevent time consuming, unnecessary STFP testing. Next, lower the walls to separate the right and left compartments and place one container filled with regular food chow pellets in each of two corners of the three chamber apparatus.Gently place the observer mouse in the center chamber and let the subject mouse habituate to the apparatus for 10 minutes. Then, open the sliding doors and let the subject mouse freely explore the whole apparatus for another 10 minutes. The next day, lower the walls to separate the right and left compartments again, and place a demonstrator mouse inside a wire containment cup.Place the cup in the center chamber and write the abbreviation of the food with which the demonstrator has been cued on the lid of the wire cup facing the mounted camera. Gently place the subject mouse in the center chamber and let the subject mouse freely explore the demonstrator mouse for 30 minutes. At the end of the exploration period, weigh each mouse and label each animal with an observed ID and flavor.Then, remove the wall divides and place one food container of the cued food into one corner of the three chamber apparatus and one food container of a novel, uncued food into another corner of the apparatus. Gently place the subject mouse in the middle chamber and let the mouse freely explore the whole arena for 120 minutes. Then, measure the food preference by weighing the remaining food.In the representative social exploration phase analysis, wild type mice did not demonstrate any differences in the total distance moved or time spent with the demonstrator mouse compared to the transgenic, Alzheimer's disease mice. During the food preference test phase, the wild type animal remembered its previous contact with the odor and preferred to eat more, and to spend more time with the matching flavored food, indicating an intact, socially induced food memory. The mutant animals, however, did not show a preference for the cued food over the novel, uncued food, indicative of a decreased, socially induced food memory.Once mastered, this technique can be completed in three hours per subject mouse over three consecutive days, if performed properly. Before and after attempting this procedure, it's important to remember to thoroughly clean the equipment and the inside of the arena to prevent olfactory cue biases between mice. This technique is based on the phenomenon of a naive observer rodent exhibiting an enhanced preference for a specific food after interaction with the demonstrate rodents that ate the same food.Though this methods can provide insights into olfactory learning and memory in Alzheimer's disease transgenic mouse models, it can also be used in other mouse models of neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by olfactory recondition and memory deficits. After watching this video, you should have a good understanding of how to assess social enhancements of diet preference in mice.

assessment-of-social-transmission-of-food-preferences-behaviors

Research

Education

JoVE Journal

JoVE Core

Cell Biology

Behavior

Unit 1

DNA Replication and Repair

SCIENTISTS IN ACTION

Assessment of Social Cognition in Non-human Primates Using a Network of Computerized Automated Learning Device (ALDM) Test Systems

Fagot &#38; Paleressompoulle1 and Fagot &#38; Bonte2 have published an automated learning device (ALDM) for the study of cognitive abilities of monkeys maintained in semi-free ranging conditions. Data accumulated during the last five years have consistently demonstrated the efficiency of this protocol to investigate individual/physical cognition in monkeys, and have further shown that this procedure reduces stress level during animal testing3. This paper demonstrates that networks of ALDM can also be used to investigate different facets of social cognition and in-group expressed behaviors in monkeys, and describes three illustrative protocols developed for that purpose. The first study demonstrates how ethological assessments of social behavior and computerized assessments of cognitive performance could be integrated to investigate the effects of socially exhibited moods on the cognitive performance of individuals. The second study shows that batteries of ALDM running in parallel can provide unique information on the influence of the presence of others on task performance. Finally, the last study shows that networks of ALDM test units can also be used to study issues related to social transmission and cultural evolution. Combined together, these three studies demonstrate clearly that ALDM testing is a highly promising experimental tool for bridging the gap in the animal literature between research on individual cognition and research on social cognition.

Assessment of Social Cognition in Non-human Primates Using a Network of Computerized Automated Learning Device ALDM Test Systems

Fagot &#38; Paleressompoulle1 have published an automated learning device (ALDM) aimed at testing individual cognitive abilities in semi-free ranging monkeys. The main goal of our protocol is to use a network of ALDM test units to study social cognition in non-human primates.

Fagot &#38; Paleressompoulle1 and Fagot &#38; Bonte2 have published an automated learning device (ALDM) for the study of cognitive abilities of monkeys ...

The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test

In many situations humans are influenced by the behavior of other people and their relationships with them. For example, in stressful situations supportive behavior of other people as well as positive social relationships can act as powerful resources to cope with stress. In order to study the interplay between these variables, this protocol describes two effective experimental manipulations of social relationships and supportive behavior in the laboratory. In the present article, these two manipulations are implemented in the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST)&#8212;a standard stress induction paradigm in which participants are subjected to a simulated job interview. More precisely, we propose (a) a manipulation of the relationship between different protagonists in the TSST by making a shared social identity salient and (b) a manipulation of the behavior of the TSST-selection committee, which acts either supportively or unsupportively. These two experimental manipulations are designed in a modular fashion and can be applied independently of each other but can also be combined. Moreover, these two manipulations can also be integrated into other stress protocols and into other standardized social interactions such as trust games, negotiation tasks, or other group tasks.

Previous research on the social dimension of stress has focused on two important variables: social identity and social support. This protocol introduces an effective experimental manipulation of these two social variables and describes their implementation in a standard stress induction paradigm (Trier Social Stress Test).

In many situations humans are influenced by the behavior of other people and their relationships with them. For example, in stressful situations ...

Psychophysical Tracking Method to Measure Taste Preferences in Children and Adults

The Monell two-series, forced-choice, paired-comparison tracking method provides a reliable measure of sweet taste preferences from childhood to adulthood. The method, which is identical for children, adolescents, and adults, is of short duration (&#60; 15 min), does not rely on sustained attention or place demands on memory (which would yield spurious age differences), and minimizes the impact of language development, making this method amenable to the cognitive limitations of pediatric populations. In this whole-mouth tasting method, subjects are asked to taste (without swallowing) pairs of solutions of different sucrose concentrations and to point to the solution they prefer. Each subsequent pair contains the participant&#39;s preceding preferred concentration and an adjacent stimulus concentration. The procedure continues until the subject chooses either a given concentration of sucrose when paired with both a higher and a lower concentration, or the highest or lowest concentration two consecutive times. Subjects are prevented from reaching response criteria on the basis of first or second position bias by the two-series design of the method, which counterbalances the order of solution presentation within each pair between the series (the weaker concentration is presented first in Series 1, second in Series 2). The geometric mean of the two sucrose concentrations chosen in Series 1 and 2 is an estimate of the participant&#39;s most preferred level of sucrose. Sucrose preference as determined with this laboratory-based measure has been shown to be associated with preference for sugars in foods and beverages and with taste receptor genotype, family history of alcoholism, and race/ethnicity, as well as depressive symptomatology among pediatric populations. The method has real-world relevance and has been applied to determine most preferred level of other tastes (e.g., salt), making it a valuable psychophysical tool.

Sweet taste has powerful hedonic appeal among people of all ages, particularly children. Described herein is a reliable and valid method that can be used to determine the level of sweetness most preferred, making it a valuable psychophysical tool for scientists.

The Monell two-series, forced-choice, paired-comparison tracking method provides a reliable measure of sweet taste preferences from childhood to ...

Assessing Working Memory in Children: The Comprehensive Assessment Battery for Children &#8211; Working Memory (CABC-WM)

The Comprehensive Assessment Battery for Children - Working Memory (CABC-WM) is a computer-based battery designed to assess different components of working memory in young school-age children. Working memory deficits have been identified in children with language-based learning disabilities, including dyslexia1,2 and language impairment3,4, but it is not clear whether these children exhibit deficits in subcomponents of working memory, such as visuospatial or phonological working memory. The CABC-WM is administered on a desktop computer with a touchscreen interface and was specifically developed to be engaging and motivating for children. Although the long-term goal of the CABC-WM is to provide individualized working memory profiles in children, the present study focuses on the initial success and utility of the CABC-WM for measuring central executive, visuospatial, phonological loop, and binding constructs in children with typical development. Immediate next steps are to administer the CABC-WM to children with specific language impairment, dyslexia, and comorbid specific language impairment and dyslexia.

Assessing Working Memory in Children: The Comprehensive Assessment Battery for Children &amp;#8211; Working Memory (CABC-WM)

Working memory predicts a significant amount of variance for a variety of cognitive tasks, including speaking, reading, and writing. However, few tools are available to assess working memory in children. We present an innovative, computer-based battery that comprehensively assesses different components of working memory in school-age children.

The Comprehensive Assessment Battery for Children - Working Memory (CABC-WM) is a computer-based battery designed to assess different components of ...

Use of a Video Scoring Anchor for Rapid Serial Assessment of Social Communication in Toddlers

Reciprocal social behavior (RSB), an early-emerging capacity to engage in social contingency&#8212;which is foundational for both social learning and social competency&#8212;is hypothesized to be disrupted in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The ability to quantify the full range of RSB during the toddler period, when core symptoms of ASD often arise, is pivotal for evaluating early risk for ASD, characterizing social development, and tracking response to early interventions. However, important parameters of variation in RSB&#8212;especially prior to the development of verbal language&#8212;can be nuanced and difficult to characterize using questionnaire-based methods. To address this challenge, we developed a system for measuring quantitative variation in RSB in toddlers (ages 18 - 30 months) that incorporated not only standard questionnaire data from caregivers but also a novel set of video-referenced items, through which a respondent compares the behavior of a subject to that observed in a short video of a young child manifesting a highly competent level of social communication. Testing of this measure in a general population sample of twins confirmed that both the video-referenced items and the RSB Total Score (video-referenced items plus non-video-referenced items) displayed unimodal, continuous distributions, strong internal consistency, marked preservation of individual differences, and extremely high heritability. In addition, video-referenced items were particularly sensitive to quantifying incremental changes in social communication, a major element of RSB, over the course of early childhood development. Scores on the vrRSB clearly differentiated children with and without ASD and these data comprise an initial validation of this promising method for quantifying early RSB&#8212;cross-sectionally, over time, and as a function of early intervention.

Here we present a protocol for administration of the video-referenced rating of reciprocal social behavior (vrRSB) using a paper or online version. This survey quantifies RSB, a prerequisite for social competence, in toddlers through &#34;video-referenced&#34; items whereby a subject is compared to a reference child shown in a three-minute video.

Reciprocal social behavior (RSB), an early-emerging capacity to engage in social contingency&#8212;which is foundational for both social learning and ...

Assessment of Sexual Behavior of Male Mice

Sexual behavior is highly species-specific. Although rodents have slightly different sexual behaviors, mice and rats have a similar sexual behavioral pattern. The purpose of this article is to describe the hormone-induced estrus ovariectomized female model and the experimental procedure for the assessment of sexual behavior of male mice. The most important sexual behavioral elements are demonstrated in the video and illustrations. The critical steps, advantages, and limitations of the sexual behavior test are explained as well. Finally, the behavior parameters are presented, and mounting, intromission, and ejaculation processes in mating are distinguished. Behavioral parameters are assessed in terms of the occurred duration and counts during the test period.

This article describes how to perform sexual behavior tests in male mice.

Sexual behavior is highly species-specific. Although rodents have slightly different sexual behaviors, mice and rats have a similar sexual behavioral ...

Assessment of Midline Lingual Point-Pressure Somatosensation Using Von Frey Hair Monofilaments

Detection and discrimination threshold estimates for oral point pressure are assessed using Von Frey Hair monofilaments. Consistent with previously published protocols, threshold estimates are determined using a two-interval forced choice (2-IFC) paradigm with a three down/one up approach. Detection threshold estimates determine the mean force in which a participant can identify the presence of pressure. During the detection threshold procedure, the participant is instructed to choose which of two sequentially presented observation intervals contained the tactile test stimulus. If the participant performs three correct detections in a row (i.e., 3 &#39;hits&#39;), the researcher decreases the stimulus to the next lower target force level. With one incorrect detection (a &#39;miss&#39;), the researcher increases the force delivered to the next higher level. This threshold estimation approach is known as a 3-down/1-up adaptive staircase. Reponses are recorded on a paper ballot, and a participant&#39;s estimated threshold is defined as the geometric mean of five reversals. During the discrimination threshold procedure, the participant is asked to make a choice between two serially presented stimuli as to which is the &#34;harder&#34; or &#34;stronger&#34; pressure. The same scoring of &#39;hits&#39;, &#39;misses&#39;, and stopping points are used. Detection and discrimination testing for oral point pressure at tongue midline takes approximately 20 min to complete. Using these commercially-available clinical tools, individual touch sensation profiles for the midline tongue can be achieved in a relatively time and cost effective means.

This work describes a standard method to assess tactile sensation at the midline of the tongue tip. Using Von Frey Hair (VFH) monofilaments, this protocol provides estimates of detection and discrimination threshold estimates for oral point pressure (OPP).

Detection and discrimination threshold estimates for oral point pressure are assessed using Von Frey Hair monofilaments. Consistent with previously ...

Working Memory Training for Older Participants: A Control Group Training Regimen and Initial Intellectual Functioning Assessment

The efficacy of cognitive training interventions is recently highly debated. There is no consensus on what kind of training regimen is the most effective. Also, individual characteristics as predictors of training outcome are still being investigated. In this article, we show the attempt to address this issue by examining not only the impact of working memory (WM) training on cognitive effectiveness in older adults but also the influence of the initial WM capacity (WMC) on the training&#39;s outcome. We describe in detail how to perform 5 weeks of an adaptive dual n-back training with an active control group (memory quiz). We are focusing here on technical aspects of the training as well as on the initial assessment of participants&#39; WMC. The evaluation of pre and post training performance of other cognitive dimensions was based on the results of tests of memory updating, inhibition, attention shifting, short-term memory (STM) and reasoning. We have found that the initial level of WMC predicts the efficiency of the n-back training intervention. We have also noticed the post training improvement in almost all aspects of cognitive functioning we measured, but those effects were mostly intervention independent.

A cognitive training intervention in elderly population together with the assessment of the pre training cognitive abilities is presented. We show two versions of training - experimental and active control - and demonstrate their effects on the array of cognitive tests.

The efficacy of cognitive training interventions is recently highly debated. There is no consensus on what kind of training regimen is the most effective. ...

Measuring Engagement of Spectators of Social Digital Games

The goal of this methodology is to assess explicit and implicit measures of engagement of spectators during social digital games in a group of participants with motion tracking systems. In the context of games that are not confined within a screen, measuring the different dimensions of engagement such as physiological arousal can be challenging. The focus of the study is made on the spectators of the game and the differences in their engagement according to interactivity. Engagement is measured with physiological and self-reported arousal, as well as an engagement questionnaire at the end of the experiment. Physiological arousal is measured with electrodermal activity (EDA) sensors that record the data on a portable device (EDA box). Portability was essential because of the nature of the game, which is akin to a life-size pong and includes many participants that move. To have an overview of the events of the game, three cameras are used to film three angles of the playing field. To synchronize the EDA data with events happening in the game, boxes with digital numbers are used and put in the frames of cameras. Signals are sent from a sync box simultaneously to the EDA boxes and to light boxes. The light boxes show the synchronization numbers to the cameras, and the same numbers are also logged on the EDA data file. That way, it is possible to record EDA of many people that move freely in a large space and synchronize this data with events in the game. In our particular study, we were able to assess the differences in arousal for the different conditions of interactivity. One of the limitations of this method is that the signals cannot be sent farther than 20 meters away. This method is, therefore, appropriate for recording physiological data in games with an unlimited number of players but is restricted to a limited space.

We propose a methodology that enables measuring engagement of spectators in a social digital game combining physiological and self-reported data. As this digital game involves a group of freely moving people, the experience is filmed using a synchronizing technique that links physiological data with events in the game.

The goal of this methodology is to assess explicit and implicit measures of engagement of spectators during social digital games in a group of ...

A Complex Diving-For-Food Task to Investigate Social Organization and Interactions in Rats

For many species, where status is a vital motivator that can affect health, social hierarchies influence behavior. Social hierarchies that include dominant-submissive relationships are common in both animal and human societies. These relationships can be affected by interactions with others and with their environment, making them difficult to analyze in a controlled study. Rather than a simple dominance hierarchy, this formation has a complicated presentation that allows rats to avoid aggression. Status can be stagnant or mutable, and results in complex societal stratifications. Here we describe a complex diving-for-food task to investigate rodent social hierarchy and behavioral interactions. This animal model may allow us to assess the relationship between a wide range of mental illnesses and social organization, as well as to study the effectiveness of therapy on social dysfunction.

This protocol describes a method of examining social hierarchy in a rat model. Rats perform a complex diving-for-food task in which they form a distinct hierarchy according to their willingness to dive underwater and swim to obtain a food pellet. This method is used to understand decision making and social relationships among highly social animals in small groups.