The authors have no acknowledgements.

Déclaration éthique: Toutes les procédures ont été approuvées par le Comité d&#39;éthique animale de l&#39;Université de Sydney et conforme à Conseil de recherches médicales de lignes directrices Australie Santé nationale et du. Procédures ont été effectuées sur des souris C57 / BL6J qui ont été élevés à l&#39;Université de Sydney Facilité Bosch rongeurs. Toutes les souris ont été logés dans un seul local suffisamment ventilé à 21 ° C de température ambiante sur un cycle lumière-obscurité de 12 h avec des lumières sur au 0600 heures dans des cages à ventilation individuelle avec accès à volonté à la nourriture sèche et l&#39;eau. Femelles en fin de grossesse ont été assignés au hasard à des conditions standard ou enrichis environnement logement. 1. Logement (taux d&#39;enrichissement): <ol><li> Obtenir 4 fin de la grossesse chez les souris femelles adultes. Affecter aléatoirement 2 à l&#39;état standard et placer chacun d&#39;eux dans une cage de souris standard propre (dimensions 391 x 199 globaux x 160 mm) contenant un igloo de la souris rouge. Pour la condition enrichi, placez le REMAINING deux souris dans une seule cage de rat taille propre (encombrement 462 x 403 x 404 mm). </li><li> Dans la cage d&#39;enrichissement, placer une variété d&#39;objets conçus pour augmenter la stimulation sensorielle et motrice (par exemple roues de course, des stimuli visuels, des boules de coton parfumées, des bandes Velcro). </li><li> Tous les 2 à 3 jours environ déplacer ces objets à l&#39;intérieur de la cage; actualiser celles qui ont été détruites. </li><li> Après le sevrage à 21 jours après la naissance, les animaux de sexe et le lieu dans un logement distinct mâle-femelle compatible avec l&#39;état de l&#39;environnement, ils ont été soulevées. Pour la condition enrichi assurer qu&#39;il ya entre 3 et 10 souris par cage avec deux et cinq souris pour la norme. Commencer les tests de comportement une fois les animaux atteignent l&#39;âge adulte (12 à 14 semaines d&#39;âge). </li></ol> 2. Construction de la boîte de Puzzle <ol><li> Obtenir six morceaux de acrylique blanc (ou autre matériau non poreux): une 750 x 280 mm, deux 280 x 250 mm, 750 x 250 deux mm et un 150 x 280 mm (voir la figure 1). </li><li> Obtenir une pièce d&#39;acrylique noir 280 x 250 mm, avec une ouverture carrée 40 x 40 mm coupé en un côté de cette pièce (voir Figure 1). </li><li> Assemblez la boîte de puzzle comme suit: utiliser la pièce 750 mm x 280 que le fond de la boîte, utiliser 280 x 250 mm pièces que les extrémités de la boîte, et les 750 x 250 mm pièces que les côtés de la boîte. </li><li> Mesurer 150 mm dans la boîte d&#39;un bout, et placer la pièce noire de l&#39;acrylique dans la boîte de sorte qu&#39;il divise en deux compartiments (une grande, une petite) avec la chasse d&#39;ouverture avec le fond de la boîte. </li><li> Prenez le morceau de mm acrylique blanc 150 x 280 et le placer au sommet de la plus petite compartiment de la boîte en se assurant qu&#39;il couvre cette zone complètement, fournissant un &quot;objectif-box&quot; chambre noire. Fixez ce morceau de acrylique pour le corps de la boîte principale par des charnières, ou à laisser libre d&#39;être complètement enlevée lors de tests comportementaux. </li><li> Prenez trois morceaux de acrylique (trois 4 x 120 mm) et rejoindre pour faire un &quot;u-Shap«canal éd. </li></ol><img alt="Figure 1" fo:content-width="5in" src="/files/ftp_upload/52225/52225fig1highres.jpg" width="500" /> Figure 1: Schéma de la tâche Puzzle Box. La boîte de Puzzle est une boîte en acrylique comportant un espace plein champ (600 x 280 mm) et une zone abritée objectif-box (150 x 280 mm), mesurant 750 x 280 mm en tout. A 40 x 40 mm d&#39;ouverture dans la partition (gris) séparant les deux zones permet aux animaux d&#39;accéder à la zone de but boîte couverte de plein champ. Cette ouverture est bloqué avec des obstacles de plus en plus difficiles à éliminer que les tests progresse. Les animaux sont soumis à un protocole de cinq jours, composé de quatre conditions d&#39;obstruction avec trois essais pour chaque condition. 3. Fonctionnement du Groupe Puzzle Box <ol><li> Nettoyer soigneusement la boîte de puzzle avec 70% d&#39;alcool. Répétez cette étape entre chaque animal testé. </li><li> Placez un igloo de la souris rouge propre au sein de l&#39;objectif-box area de la boîte de Puzzle, et remplacer le couvercle sur la boîte de but. </li><li> Se il est une condition de l&#39;obstruction à l&#39;essai, placer l&#39;obstruction au sein de la porte de la boîte de but (voir Figure 2). </li><li> Placez la souris testée dans la section en plein champ de la boîte de Puzzle, orientée vers la boîte de but, et à l&#39;extrémité la plus éloignée de la boîte de but. </li><li> Enregistrer le temps requis pour les quatre pattes de l&#39;animal à entrer dans la section de la boîte de Puzzle but boîte. </li><li> Si un animal ne entre pas dans la boîte de but, mettre fin à l&#39;essai une fois que le délai fixé est atteint (voir le tableau 1). </li><li> Une fois un procès est terminé, enlever l&#39;animal de la boîte de Puzzle et le placer dans une cage de maintien séparée jusqu&#39;à la prochaine procès commence. Gardez un écart de 60 à 180 sec entre les essais pour chaque animal. </li><li> Pour chaque animal, effectuer trois essais par jour pendant cinq jours consécutifs de test, avec quatre conditions d&#39;obstruction et trois essais de chaque état. Le troisième trial d&#39;un état ​​d&#39;obstruction donnée doit toujours administré le jour suivant (voir tableau 1). </li></ol><img alt="Tableau 1" fo:content-width="5in" src="/files/ftp_upload/52225/52225table1.jpg" width="500" /> Tableau 1: Schéma de la tâche Puzzle Box. La tâche Puzzle Box est exécuté pendant cinq jours, et se compose de quatre conditions d&#39;obstruction. Il existe trois essais sur chacun des quatre premiers jours, et une sur le cinquième jour. Chaque condition d&#39;obstruction a trois essais; les deux premières sur une journée, et le troisième jour suivant immédiatement. Le premier procès d&#39;un état d&#39;obstruction vise à tester la capacité de résolution de problèmes d&#39;origine, le second procès examine l&#39;acquisition de la tâche et le renforcement et le troisième essai est utilisé comme un test pour la rétention de la solution et de rappel. <img alt="Figure 2" fo:content-width="6in" src="/files/ftp_upload/52225/52225fig2highres.jpg" width="600" /> Figure 2: Entraverconditions d&#39;ions au sein de la tâche Puzzle Box. Schémas de l&#39;arène Puzzle Box et les conditions d&#39;obstruction utilisées dans cette étude. (A) Condition 0 (C0), sans obstruction présent dans la porte entre le champ ouvert et zones objectif-Box. (B) Condition 1 (C1 ), avec un &quot;u en forme de&quot; canaux présents dans la porte entre le champ ouvert et zones objectif-box. (C) Condition 2 (C2), où le canal est rempli d&#39;une litière propre. (D) Condition 3 (C3 ), avec une &quot;prise de tissu&quot; présent dans la porte entre le champ ouvert et zones objectif-box. (E) Condition 4 (C4) avec un &quot;bouchon de mousse&quot; présent dans la porte entre le champ ouvert et objectif-box zones. Dimensions de l&#39;arène sont selon énumérés dans Méthodes et Figure 1. 4. Interprétation des données <ol><li> Représenter des données soit comme temps pris pour comcomplète le procès (y compris les essais nuls où les animaux ne ont pas terminé la tâche dans le délai prévu) ou que le nombre d&#39;essais nuls. </li><li> Utilisez un ANOVA à mesures répétées pour évaluer l&#39;effet des conditions de logement sur la performance au sein de la boîte de puzzle, avec le type d&#39;obstruction / condition (C) et le numéro de tâche (T) facteurs intra-sujets et le niveau d&#39;enrichissement (standard par rapport enrichi) entre-sujets facteur . </li></ol>

The authors declare they have no competing financial interests.

Les données présentées démontrent que la boîte de puzzle peut être utilisé efficacement pour évaluer l&#39;impact de l&#39;EE. Souris élevés dans des environnements enrichis régulièrement pris beaucoup moins de temps pour résoudre les énigmes d&#39;obstruction dans ce test de comportement que ne animaux élevés dans des conditions de laboratoire standard. En outre, cette différence était plus importante dans le premier procès pour trois des quatre conditions testées, suggérant EE a une plus grande in...

Enrichissement de l&#39;environnement (EE) peut être défini comme un cadre qui fournissent des animaux avec des possibilités accrues d&#39;interaction sociale, l&#39;activité motrice, et une plus grande stimulation sensorielle que d&#39;habitude connu dans un environment.EE standard de laboratoire a été démontré qu&#39;elle affecte toujours le comportement des animaux, entraînant des changements tels que la réduction du stress et de l&#39;activité liée à l&#39;anxiété 8-10, l&#39;amélioration des performances dans les tâches d&#39;apprentissage et de mémoire 8,11, l&#39;apparition précoce de la coordination motrice et activité exploratoire 11, les changements dans les soins maternels 8 ainsi que la résistance à 12 substances addictives 15. En outre, EE a été révélé pour améliorer les effets de troubles neurodégénératifs, de retarder l&#39;apparition et la diminution de la sévérité des symptômes chez les modèles animaux de la maladie de Huntington 1-4,16, la maladie de Parkinson 17 et 18 la maladie d&#39;Alzheimer. Ces changements Correlier avec les modifications anatomiques et moléculaires EE est connue pour entraîner tout le cerveau. Les animaux élevés dans des environnements enrichis des premiers stades de développement montrent une myriade de changements neuronaux, y compris une augmentation du poids du cerveau et de l&#39;épaisseur corticale, dendritique ramification 9,2-22 et la densité synaptique 23. EE peut modifier à la fois le niveau et le calendrier de l&#39;expression du facteur de croissance 9,24-30, qui a été montré à contribuer au développement accéléré des sensorielle 25,26,28,29, mnémonique 30, ainsi que des circuits automobiles 31,32. Des travaux antérieurs ont révélé à des conclusions parfois contradictoires lors d&#39;enquêtes sur l&#39;impact de l&#39;EE, sans prendre en compte les différents types d&#39;animaux et environnements utilisés dans les études individuelles 9,24,27,30. Actuellement, il n&#39;y a pas tâche comportementale cohérente et simple qui peut être utilisé pour mesurer l&#39;efficacité des différents paradigmes de l&#39;EE dans différentes souches et specs d&#39;animaux. La tâche Puzzle Box a été conçu comme un test simple pour déterminer problème native d&#39;un animal la capacité de résolution 7. Animaux placés dans l&#39;espace ouvert sont nécessaires pour éliminer les matériaux situés dans une petite ouverture pour accéder à une région / abri couvert obstruction. Chaque sujet est donné trois essais avec le même obstruction afin d&#39;évaluer trois attributs cognitifs différents. Le premier essai donne une indication de base de la capacité de résolution de problèmes inhérente ou natif. Le deuxième procès, exécutez le même jour, donne une indication de la capacité de l&#39;animal à améliorer et donc renforcer les stratégies pour éliminer l&#39;obstruction spécifique. Le troisième procès, menée le lendemain, donne un aperçu de la capacité du sujet à conserver et rappeler la solution appris à la tâche. La motivation pour résoudre ces énigmes &quot;obstruction&quot; par les animaux peut être modifiée, ce qui pourraitévoquant un désir inné d&#39;éviter les champs ouverts et chercher un abri, ainsi que d&#39;un lecteur inhérent à explorer leur environnement 6,7. La multitude de pilotes comportementaux sous-jacents potentiels le désir de résoudre le casse-tête suggère que différentes zones du cerveau sont impliquées dans la médiation de l&#39;exécution des tâches. Des travaux antérieurs ont montré que dans des modèles murins de la schizophrénie, le cortex préfrontal et l&#39;hippocampe sont impliqués dans l&#39;acquisition de cette tâche 5. Une étude de la lésion chez le rat a également révélé un grand nombre de régions du cerveau impliquées dans la performance Puzzle Box, y compris divers noyaux thalamiques, l&#39;hypothalamus, le cervelet, et les structures limbiques. Ensemble, ces résultats indiquent que l&#39;engagement dans cette tâche de résolution problème implique une multitude de structures neuronales associées à la fonction cognitive. La boîte de Puzzle a été utilisé avec succès pour évaluer la capacité de résolution de problème de souris, ainsi que les déficits cognitifs présenté par mmodèles d&#39;urine de la schizophrénie 5-7. Performance sur la tâche a été montré pour être très cohérente, et de corréler bien avec les résultats d&#39;autres tests comportementaux cognitifs 6. Le but de ce travail était donc d&#39;adapter la tâche Puzzle Box pour devenir un moyen simple et fiable de déterminer l&#39;efficacité de l&#39;EE.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Black Acrylic Board</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>750 x 280 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>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>280 x 250 mm with a 40 x 40 mm &#34;door&#34; cut into one side</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></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>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&#160;</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&#160;</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.

Les résultats décrits ici sont un échantillon représentatif, avec des données tirées de plusieurs cohortes constituées de différentes portées. Tous les tests de comportement a été menée entre 0700 et 1100 heures, avec l&#39;ordre d&#39;essai randomisé des animaux dans une cohorte. Les animaux élevés dans un environnement enrichi (n = 14, 7 femmes et 7 hommes) ont pris beaucoup moins de temps pour résoudre les tâches d&#39;obstruction dans la boîte de puzzle que ceux élevés dans un environnement stand...

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.

L&#39;utilisation de la boîte de Puzzle comme un moyen d&#39;évaluer l&#39;efficacité d&#39;enrichissement du milieu

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

11.5K vues.  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.

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

The Crossmodal Congruency Task as a Means to Obtain an Objective Behavioral Measure in the Rubber Hand Illusion Paradigm

The rubber hand illusion (RHI) is a popular experimental paradigm. Participants view touch on an artificial rubber hand while the participants' own hidden hand is touched. If the viewed and felt touches are given at the same time then this is sufficient to induce the compelling experience that the rubber hand is one's own hand. The RHI can be used to investigate exactly how the brain constructs distinct body representations for one's own body. Such representations are crucial for successful interactions with the external world. To obtain a subjective measure of the RHI, researchers typically ask participants to rate statements such as "I felt as if the rubber hand were my hand". Here we demonstrate how the crossmodal congruency task can be used to obtain an objective behavioral measure within this paradigm.
The variant of the crossmodal congruency task we employ involves the presentation of tactile targets and visual distractors. Targets and distractors are spatially congruent (i.e. same finger) on some trials and incongruent (i.e. different finger) on others. The difference in performance between incongruent and congruent trials - the crossmodal congruency effect (CCE) - indexes multisensory interactions. Importantly, the CCE is modulated both by viewing a hand as well as the synchrony of viewed and felt touch which are both crucial factors for the RHI.
The use of the crossmodal congruency task within the RHI paradigm has several advantages. It is a simple behavioral measure which can be repeated many times and which can be obtained during the illusion while participants view the artificial hand. Furthermore, this measure is not susceptible to observer and experimenter biases. The combination of the RHI paradigm with the crossmodal congruency task allows in particular for the investigation of multisensory processes which are critical for modulations of body representations as in the RHI.

We demonstrate how an objective measure can be employed in the widely employed rubber hand illusion paradigm. This measure is obtained by modifying the well-established crossmodal congruency task. This task allows the investigation of multisensory processes which are critical for modulations of body representations as in the rubber hand illusion.

Le groupe de congruence intermodale comme un moyen d&#39;obtenir une mesure comportementale objectif dans le caoutchouc main Illusion Paradigm

The rubber hand illusion (RHI) is a popular experimental paradigm. Participants view touch on an artificial rubber hand while the participants' own hidden ...

Recherche

Sciences du comportement

Assessing Forelimb Function after Unilateral Cervical SCI using Novel Tasks: Limb Step-alternation, Postural Instability and Pasta Handling

Cervical spinal cord injury (cSCI) can cause devastating neurological deficits, including impairment or loss of upper limb and hand function. A majority of the spinal cord injuries in humans occur at the cervical levels. Therefore, developing cervical injury models and developing relevant and sensitive behavioral tests is of great importance. Here we describe the use of a newly developed forelimb step-alternation test after cervical spinal cord injury in rats. In addition, we describe two behavioral tests that have not been used after spinal cord injury: a postural instability test (PIT), and a pasta-handling test. All three behavioral tests are highly sensitive to injury and are easy to use. Therefore, we feel that these behavioral tests can be instrumental in investigating therapeutic strategies after cSCI.

Three new behavioral tests (forelimb step-alternation, postural instability test, pasta handling test) for evaluating forelimb function after cervical spinal cord injury in rodents are described.

Évaluation des membres antérieurs Fonction après unilatérale du col SCI utilisant de nouvelles tâches: Membre étape alternance, l&#39;instabilité posturale et pâtes manutention

Cervical spinal cord injury (cSCI) can cause devastating neurological deficits, including impairment or loss of upper limb and hand function. A majority ...

The Forced Swim Test as a Model of Depressive-like Behavior

The goal of the present protocol is to describe the forced swim test (FST), which is one of the most commonly used assays for the study of depressive-like behavior in rodents. The FST is based on the assumption that when placing an animal in a container filled with water, it will first make efforts to escape but eventually will exhibit immobility that may be considered to reflect a measure of behavioral despair. This test has been extensively used because it involves the exposure of the animals to stress, which was shown to have a role in the tendency for major depression. Additionally, the FST has been shown to share some of the factors that are influenced or altered by depression in humans, including changes in food consumption, sleep abnormalities and drug-withdrawal-induced anhedonia. The main advantages of this procedure are that it is relatively easy to perform and that its results are easily and quickly analyzed. Moreover, its sensitivity to a broad range of antidepressant drugs that makes it a suitable screening test is one of the most important features leading to its high predictive validity. Despite its appeal, this model has a number of disadvantages. First, the issue of chronic augmentation is problematic in this test because in real life patients need to be treated for at least several weeks before they experience any relief from their symptoms. Last, due to the aversiveness of the FST, it is important to take into account possible influences it might have on brain structure/function if brain analyses are to be carried out following this procedure.

This protocol describes the forced swim test, which is used for the study of depressive-like behavior in rodents. This procedure involves placing an animal in a container filled with water that eventually will lead to the exhibition of immobility behavior, which is considered to reflect behavioral despair.

Le test de natation forcée comme un modèle de type dépressif Comportement

The goal of the present protocol is to describe the forced swim test (FST), which is one of the most commonly used assays for the study of depressive-like ...

Assessing the Multiple Dimensions of Engagement to Characterize Learning: A Neurophysiological Perspective

In a recent theoretical synthesis on the concept of engagement, Fredricks, Blumenfeld and Paris1 defined engagement by its multiple dimensions: behavioral, emotional and cognitive. They observed that individual types of engagement had not been studied in conjunction, and little information was available about interactions or synergy between the dimensions; consequently, more studies would contribute to creating finely tuned teaching interventions. Benefiting from the recent technological advances in neurosciences, this paper presents a recently developed methodology to gather and synchronize data on multidimensional engagement during learning tasks. The technique involves the collection of (a) electroencephalography, (b) electrodermal, (c) eye-tracking, and (d) facial emotion recognition data on four different computers. This led to synchronization issues for data collected from multiple sources. Post synchronization in specialized integration software gives researchers a better understanding of the dynamics between the multiple dimensions of engagement. For curriculum developers, these data could provide informed guidelines for achieving better instruction/learning efficiency. This technique also opens up possibilities in the field of brain-computer interactions, where adaptive learning or assessment environments could be developed.

This paper aims to describe the techniques involved in the collection and synchronization of the multiple dimensions (behavioral, affective and cognitive) of learners&#8217; engagement during a task.

Évaluer les multiples dimensions de l&#39;engagement à caractériser l&#39;apprentissage: une perspective neurophysiologique

In a recent theoretical synthesis on the concept of engagement, Fredricks, Blumenfeld and Paris1 defined engagement by its multiple dimensions: ...

Errors as a Means of Reducing Impulsive Food Choice

Nowadays, the increasing incidence of eating disorders due to poor self-control has given rise to increased obesity and other chronic weight problems, and ultimately, to reduced life expectancy. The capacity to refrain from automatic responses is usually high in situations in which making errors is highly likely. The protocol described here aims at reducing imprudent preference in women during hypothetical intertemporal choices about appetitive food by associating it with errors. First, participants undergo an error task where two different edible stimuli are associated with two different error likelihoods (high and low). Second, they make intertemporal choices about the two edible stimuli, separately. As a result, this method decreases the discount rate for future amounts of the edible reward that cued higher error likelihood, selectively. This effect is under the influence of the self-reported hunger level. The present protocol demonstrates that errors, well known as motivationally salient events, can induce the recruitment of cognitive control, thus being ultimately useful in reducing impatient choices for edible commodities.

Giving in to temptation of tasty food may result in long-term overweight problems. This protocol describes how to reduce imprudent preference for edible commodities during hypothetical intertemporal choices in women by associating them with errors.

Erreurs comme un moyen de réduire Impulsive choix d&#39;aliments

Nowadays, the increasing incidence of eating disorders due to poor self-control has given rise to increased obesity and other chronic weight problems, and ...

A Method to Test the Effect of Environmental Cues on Mating Behavior in Drosophila melanogaster

An individual's sexual drive is influenced by genotype, experience and environmental conditions. How these factors interact to modulate sexual behaviors remains poorly understood. In Drosophila melanogaster, environmental cues, such as food availability, affect mating activity offering a tractable system to investigate the mechanisms modulating sexual behavior. In D. melanogaster, environmental cues are often sensed via the chemosensory gustatory and olfactory systems. Here, we present a method to test the effect of environmental chemical cues on mating behavior. The assay consists of a small mating arena containing food medium and a mating couple. The mating frequency for each couple is continuously monitored for 24 h. Here we present the applicability of this assay to test environmental compounds from an external source through a pressurized air system as well as manipulation of the environmental components directly in the mating arena. The use of a pressurized air system is especially useful to test the effect of very volatile compounds, while manipulating components directly in the mating arena can be of value to ascertain a compound's presence. This assay can be adapted to answer questions about the influence of genetic and environmental cues on mating behavior and fecundity as well as other male and female reproductive behaviors.

A Method to Test the Effect of Environmental Cues on Mating Behavior in Drosophila melanogaster

We demonstrate an assay to analyze the environmental and genetic cues that influence mating behavior in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster.

Une méthode pour tester l&#39;effet des cotes environnementales sur le comportement d&#39;accouplement dans<em&gt; Drosophila melanogaster</em

An individual's sexual drive is influenced by genotype, experience and environmental conditions. How these factors interact to modulate sexual behaviors ...

The Knob Supination Task: A Semi-automated Method for Assessing Forelimb Function in Rats

Tasks that accurately measure dexterity in animal models are critical to understand hand function. Current rat behavioral tasks that measure dexterity largely use video analysis of reaching or food manipulation. While these tasks are easy to implement and are robust across disease models, they are subjective and laborious for the experimenter. Automating traditional tasks or creating new automated tasks can make the tasks more efficient, objective, and quantitative. Since rats are less dexterous than primates, central nervous system (CNS) injury produces more subtle deficits in dexterity, however, supination is highly affected in rodents and crucial to hand function in primates. Therefore, we designed a semi-automated task that measures forelimb supination in rats. Rats are trained to reach and grasp a knob-shaped manipulandum and turn the manipulandum in supination to receive a reward. Rats can acquire the skill within 20 &plusmn; 5 days. While the early part of training is highly supervised, much of the training is done without direct supervision. The task reliably and reproducibly captures subtle deficits after injury and shows functional recovery that accurately reflects clinical recovery curves. Analysis of data is performed by specialized software through a graphical user interface that is designed to be intuitive. We also give solutions to common problems encountered during training, and show that minor corrections to behavior early in training produce reliable acquisition of supination. Thus, the knob supination task provides efficient and quantitative evaluation of a critical movement for dexterity in rats.

This manuscript describes a semi-automated task that quantifies supination in rats. Rats reach, grasp, and supinate a spherical manipulandum. The rat is rewarded with a pellet if the turn angle exceeds a criterion set by the user. This task increases throughput, sensitivity to injury, and objectivity compared to traditional tasks.

La tâche de Supination bouton : Une méthode semi-automatique d’évaluation des fonctions du membre antérieur chez le rat

Tasks that accurately measure dexterity in animal models are critical to understand hand function. Current rat behavioral tasks that measure dexterity ...

Methods of Pairing and Pair Maintenance of New Zealand White Rabbits (Oryctolagus Cuniculus) Via Behavioral Ethogram, Monitoring, and Interventions

New Zealand White (NZW) laboratory rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), as well as their ancestors the European Rabbit, are a social species that exhibit numerous benefits to being housed accordingly. Although these rabbits are innately gregarious, certain behaviors can still arise when kept in captivity, which if left unchecked, can confound research results or lead to wounding, which in extreme cases can be severe. To prevent these issues, there must be a well-structured plan for the monitoring and maintenance of paired laboratory rabbits. The purpose of this protocol is to present effective procedures for establishing newly paired NZW rabbits as well as methods for successful maintenance. Multiple methods have been tested for the creation of newly paired female rabbits from the vendor, but the most efficacious technique emphasizes capitalizing on the stress bonding from transport, urine marking, pairing in a neutral cage with no forced sharing of resources and a system of monitoring and intervention. To determine the best method of housing paired rabbits in a standard caging environment, data were collected to generate a behavioral ethogram. Behaviors were then quantified as positive, neutral or negative and were tracked across the lifespan of the pair to determine which behaviors indicated pair success or failure. With the newfound knowledge of socially housed laboratory NZW rabbit behavior, enrichment intervention was applied to alleviate aggression and prevent wounding, thus resulting in a higher percentage of successful pairs. Through several years of trialing different pairing methods, the development of the ethogram and the resulting enrichment interventions, understanding of the highly complex social constructs that dominate pair housed rabbit behavior has dramatically increased and allowed for the provision of more species-specific care and increased standards of welfare.

Methods of Pairing and Pair Maintenance of New Zealand White Rabbits Oryctolagus Cuniculus Via Behavioral Ethogram, Monitoring, and Interventions

Though European rabbits are a social species, socially housing them can be challenging. Therefore, there must be a thorough understanding of behaviors and social structures of pair-housed laboratory rabbits. Here we present a protocol to identify pairing methods, species-typical hierarchy establishment behaviors and behaviors that warrant appropriate intervention.

Méthodes d’appariement et l’entretien de la paire de New Zealand White Rabbits (Oryctolagus Cuniculus) Via Ethogramme comportementale, surveillance et les Interventions

New Zealand White (NZW) laboratory rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), as well as their ancestors the European Rabbit, are a social species that exhibit ...

Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure

Valid and efficient measures for assessing the quality of parent-child relationships are needed to facilitate research and evidence-based practice with parents. This paper focuses on such a method, namely Five-Minute Speech Sample-Coherence (FMSS-Coherence). In this method, a parent is asked to speak for five uninterrupted minutes about her/his child and their relationship. The resulted narrative is coded for coherence, namely the extent to which the parent provides&#160;in the narrative&#160;a clear, consistent, multidimensional and well-supported portrayal of the child. FMSS-Coherence is based on attachment research that shows that the coherence of parents&#8217; narratives is indicative of the quality of the parent-child relationship and child adjustment. It overcomes the limitations of attachment narrative measures which are typically labor intensive. FMSS-Coherence is less nuanced than extant attachment narrative measures. Yet, studies of families from different cultural backgrounds, across different child ages and in the context of typically developing children as well as children with special needs suggest that coherence can be reliably evaluated using the FMSS procedure. Furthermore, parents&#8217; FMSS-Coherence is associated with parenting quality and children&#8217;s socio-emotional adjustment. Thus, it holds promise for researchers and practitioners who seek a relatively time- and cost-effective method for assessing the coherence of parents&#8217; narratives regarding their child.

Assessing the Coherence of Parents&#039; Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure

This paper introduces a method for assessing the coherence of parents' short narratives regarding their child and their relationship using the five-minute speech sample procedure.

Évaluer la cohérence des récits courts des parents concernant leur enfant à l'aide de la procédure d'échantillonnage de la parole de cinq minutes

Valid and efficient measures for assessing the quality of parent-child relationships are needed to facilitate research and evidence-based practice with ...

Providing Meaningful Environmental Enrichment and Measuring Saliva Cortisol in Pigs Housed on Slatted Flooring

As pork is the most consumed meat worldwide, the welfare of animals in the swine industry has increasingly become a major public concern, which imposes a substantial pressure coming from customers, legislators and other stakeholders, to make management changes to improve the well-being of these animals. Several studies have demonstrated that providing environmental enrichment to pigs allows them to express their natural behavior, such as rooting and exploring, as well as nesting prior to farrowing, and is associated with reduced stress and improved production and welfare. However, many considerations should be taken into account when providing environmental enrichment, such as the type of floor, drainage and sewage systems, the pigs&#39; stage in life, the material, as well as its hanging method, height and location within the pen. The objectives of this paper are (1) to give methodologic information on how to provide a relatively simple and practical meaningful environmental enrichment for pigs which are housed on slatted floors during the different stages of their life, and (2) to demonstrate how to collect saliva samples for the measurement of cortisol concentrations, as a biomarker for acute stress. Protocols include information regarding the use of jute, cotton ropes, straw in racks, as well as chewable silicone sticks devices as environmental enrichment in pens of farrowing and lactation, weaners and finishers. In addition, the use of cotton rope for a non-invasive saliva samples collection for cortisol concentrations analysis is detailed. The protocols provided are relevant for professionals aiming to improve and monitor animal welfare, in both research and industrial swine farming.

This protocol demonstrates how to provide practical meaningful environmental enrichment for pigs which are housed on slatted flooring during the different stages of their lives, and how to collect saliva samples in a non-invasive manner for the measurement of cortisol concentrations, as a biomarker for acute stress.

Fournir un enrichissement environnemental significatif et la mesure du cortisol de salive chez les porcs logés sur le plancher à lattes

As pork is the most consumed meat worldwide, the welfare of animals in the swine industry has increasingly become a major public concern, which imposes a ...