Gli autori sono grati per l&#39;assistenza tecnica e logistica e l&#39;esperienza fornita da Rose Tobias, Younghee Ahn, e David N. Ruskin. Il lavoro qui descritto è stato finanziato dalla Fondazione dell&#39;Ospedale Pediatrico di Alberta e Hospital Research Institute Pediatrico di Alberta.

Tutte le procedure sono state eseguite in accordo con il Comitato Animal Care canadese e approvato dalla University of Calgary Comitato Animal Care. 1. Preparazione degli animali <ol><li> Isolare topi durante la notte (12 ore) prima del test. Per fare questo, inserire tutti i BTBR e topi B6 (P35-P40) necessario per l&#39;analisi sperimentale in gabbie da soli, il giorno prima del test. </li><li> Posizionare il mouse isolato in analisi comportamentale camera 30 min prima del test in modo che gli animali abituarsi al nuovo ambiente. </li></ol> 2. Preparazione del materiale <ol><li> Posizionare i cm in plexiglas 30 x 30 scatola con un coperchio rimovibile in sala prove. Porre il recipiente su un tavolo e posizionare la videocamera ad un angolo di 45 ° dal basso; questa posizione della telecamera permetterà la visualizzazione di tutto il piano del contenitore e il mouse. Utilizzare una retroilluminazione a infrarossi per ridurre al minimo i riflessi dal muro dila scatola. </li><li> Utilizzare una videocamera che possiede una funzione di zoom alto con funzionalità a infrarossi per ottimizzare le riprese in un ambiente a basso lux. Mettere a fuoco la fotocamera sul contenitore allargando l&#39;immagine in modo che i topi vengono visualizzati in tutta la scatola. </li><li> Coprire l&#39;intero pavimento della scatola con biancheria da letto di segatura (dovrebbe essere circa 1 cm di profondità). </li></ol> 3 Procedura di test <ol><li> Posizionare una coppia intra-ceppo di topi (BTBR - BTBR o B6-B6) all&#39;interno della custodia di test. </li><li> Spegnere le luci in sala prove. </li><li> Avviare la videocamera per registrare e uscire dalla stanza. Ciò impedirà sperimentatore influenza sul comportamento dei topi. Registrare l&#39;attività per 11 min. </li><li> Una volta che la registrazione è completa, ri-entrare nella sala prove e restituire i topi nelle loro gabbie a casa originali. </li><li> Smaltire la biancheria da letto segatura, lavare l&#39;intera scatola di prova con il 70% di etanolo, e inserire nuovi letti segatura sul fondo dei testcustodia. </li><li> Ripetere l&#39;intera procedura per il resto delle coppie intra-macchia e restituire i topi nelle loro gabbie a casa originali. </li></ol> Nota: Per verificare l&#39;affidabilità dei dati inchworming, la procedura può essere ripetuta nei giorni successivi con diverse BTBR-BTBR e combinazioni di coppie B6-B6. Questo farà sì che il comportamento osservato non dipende dal partner specifico nel contenitore, ma l&#39;individuo inchworming. 4. Analisi dei dati <ol><li> Inchworming è definito come il movimento sincrono verso l&#39;interno e verso l&#39;esterno delle anteriori e posteriori-piedi dell&#39;animale, con un minimo di un co-occorrenti verso l&#39;interno e quindi conseguente movimento verso l&#39;esterno che sposta in modo efficace la biancheria da letto. Guardare manualmente e segnare due volte (una volta per ciascun topo) I video di accertare la durata totale, frequenza, e la latenza di inchworm nel video 10 min. Scoring manuale di inchworming durata, frequenza e la latenza dovrebbe essere basata sul seguitoing definizioni: Durata Inchworming: è definito come il tempo totale di ogni mouse spende impegnato nel comportamento inchworming. Per segnare questo aspetto della inchworming, utilizzare un timer che può essere avviato e fermato. Avviare tempi quando il mouse comincia a inchworm e fermare il timer quando il mouse si ferma inchworming. Quando e se il mouse comincia a inchworm di nuovo, re-start e ri-arrestare il timer. Ripetere l&#39;avvio e l&#39;arresto del timer per la durata del periodo di osservazione di 10 minuti ogni volta i inchworms mouse. Questo genererà un punteggio durata inchworming che è 0:00-10:00 min. Inchworming Frequenza: è definito come il numero di volte che il topo impegna nel comportamento inchworming nel periodo di osservazione di 10 min. Un unico conteggio viene assegnato a ogni avvio del mouse e arresti inchworming. Il punteggio frequenza inchworming sarà un numero compreso tra 0 e ∞. Latenza di Inchworm: è definito come il tempo esimoa passa prima della prima insorgenza di inchworming. Avviare il timer quando il video inizia, questa sarà 0:00, e fermare il timer quando il inchworms del mouse per la prima volta. Se il mouse non visualizza il comportamento inchworming la latenza di inchworm sarà alle 10:00. Quando si analizza la latenza di Bruco, si otterrà un punteggio 0:01-10:00 min. I topi che non riescono a inchworm per la durata del periodo di prova devono essere rimossi dalla popolazione campione per assicurarsi che i risultati sono pertinenti ad una popolazione di topi che mostrano il comportamento inchworming. </li> <li> Calcolare la frequenza e la durata totale di inchworming per ciascun topo nel video. Calcolare il tempo richiesto per il primo mouse nella coppia di inchworm per la latenza di inchworm per quella specifica coppia di topi. Questi parametri sono basati sul lavoro metodologico prima correlate a comportamenti scavo ripetitivi nei topi 6. </li><li> Calcolare la durata media, frequenza,e la latenza di scavare per ogni gruppo sperimentale nell&#39;analisi (cioè BTBR vs B6). Utilizzare un ANOVA o t-test per confrontare i dati tra ceppi / gruppi sperimentali. Nota: Al termine della procedura viene completata in un secondo giorno, utilizzare un ripetute misure ANOVA per garantire che non vi sono stati effetti processuali conseguenti o effetti di accoppiamento. </li></ol>

<ol>
	<li>McFarlane, H. G., Kusek, G. K., Yan, 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, and Behavior. 7, 152-163 (2008).</li><li>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=Designing+mouse+behavioral+tasks+relevant+to+autistic-like+behaviors.">Designing mouse behavioral tasks relevant to autistic-like behaviors.</a> Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews. 10 (4), 248-258 (2004).</li><li>Deacon, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Digging+and+marble+burying+in+mice:+simple+methods+for+in+vivo+identification+of+biological+impacts.">Digging and marble burying in mice: simple methods for in vivo identification of biological impacts.</a> Nature Protocols. 1 (1), 122-124 (2006).</li><li>Thomas, A., Burant, A., Bui, N., Graham, D., Yuva-Paylor, L. A., Paylor, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Marble+burying+reflects+a+repetitive+and+perseverative+behavior+more+than+novelty-induced+anxiety.">Marble burying reflects a repetitive and perseverative behavior more than novelty-induced anxiety.</a> Psychopharmacology. 204, 361-373 (2009).</li><li>Dudek, B. C., Adams, N., Boice, R., Abbott, M. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Genetic+influences+on+digging+behaviours+in+mice+(Mus+musculus)+in+laboratory+and+seminatural+settings.">Genetic influences on digging behaviours in mice (Mus musculus) in laboratory and seminatural settings.</a> Journal of Comparative Psychology. 97 (3), 249-259 (1983).</li><li>Webster, D., Williams, M. H., Owens, R., Geiger, V., Dewsbury, 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=Digging+behavior+in+12+taxa+of+muriod+rodents.">Digging behavior in 12 taxa of muriod rodents.</a> Animal Learning and Behavior. 9 (2), 173-177 (1981).</li><li>Pobbe, R. H., Pearson, B. L., Defensor, E., Bolivar, V. J., 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=Expression+of+social+behaviours+of+C57BL/6J+versus+BTBR+inbred+mouse+strains+in+the+visible+burrow+system.">Expression of social behaviours of C57BL/6J versus BTBR inbred mouse strains in the visible burrow system.</a> Behavioural Brain Research. 214, 443-449 (2010).</li><li>Lewis, M. H., Tanimura, Y., Lee, L., Bodfish, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Animal+models+of+restricted+repetitive+behavior+in+autism.">Animal models of restricted repetitive behavior in autism.</a> Behavioural Brain Research. 176, 66-74 (2007).</li><li>Silverman, J. L., Yang, M., Lord, 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=Behavioural+phenotyping+assays+for+mouse+models+of+autism.">Behavioural phenotyping assays for mouse models of autism.</a> Nature Reviews. 11, 490-502 (2010).</li><li>Deacon, R., Rawlins, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hippocampal+lesions,+species-typical+behaviours+and+anxiety+in+mice.">Hippocampal lesions, species-typical behaviours and anxiety in mice.</a> Behavioural Brain Research. 156, 241-249 (2005).</li><li>Pearson, B. L., 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=Motor+and+cognitive+sterotypies+in+the+BTBR+T+tf/J+mouse+model+of+autism.">Motor and cognitive sterotypies in the BTBR T+tf/J mouse model of autism.</a> Genes, Brain, and Behavior. 10, 228-235 (2011).</li><li>Pobbe, R. H., Defensor, E., Pearson, B. L., Bolivar, V. J., 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=General+and+social+anxiety+in+the+BTBR+T++tf/J+mouse+strain.">General and social anxiety in the BTBR T+ tf/J mouse strain.</a> Behavioural Brain Research. 216 (1), 446-451 (2011).</li></ol>

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Inchworming è una misura romanzo di comportamento ripetitivo che può essere usato per studiare molti disturbi che presentano stereotypies come ASD. Ci sono 4 passi che sono di importanza cruciale per la generazione di dati inchworming attendibili dal protocollo di interazione sociale giovanile modificato: 1) il periodo di isolamento prolungato è essenziale per il test inchworming e non deve essere rimosso dal protocollo o abbreviato. Questo requisito è specifico per il test di inchworming a coppie qui descritti. 2) ...

Sebbene la fisiopatologia dei disturbi dello spettro autistico (ASD) rimane poco chiaro, la diagnosi dipende dalla presenza di tre grandi categorie di sintomi: anormale reciprocità sociale, menomazioni della comunicazione, e ripetitivi comportamenti stereotipati / 1. La maggior parte dei modelli di roditori sono in grado di riprodurre contemporaneamente tutti e tre i sintomi in un singolo animale. Così, i modelli in grado di simulare in modo affidabile alcuni o tutti gli aspetti del disturbo tenere un grande valore per lo sviluppo di efficaci strategie preventive e terapeutiche. Un modello che fa visualizzare tutti e tre gli aspetti della ASD è il mouse 1,2 BTBR. In combinazione con vocalizzazioni ultrasoniche e saggi approccio sociale, la prova di interazione sociale giovanile è comunemente usato per caratterizzare modelli murini di ASD pediatrica; Questi test misurano diminuito e comportamenti sociali anomali che rappresentano le caratteristiche principali di ASD. Oltre alla prova di interazione sociale giovanile, molti altritest sono stati utilizzati per misurare i comportamenti stereotipati in modelli animali di ASD. Ad esempio, il test di seppellimento marmo, che esamina la tendenza di un animale a spostare lettiera utilizzando il muso e zampe anteriori nel tentativo di coprire un oggetto, è pensato per misurare comportamenti stereotipati compulsivi che si verificano in risposta a stimoli avversi 3,4. Di conseguenza, i test di scavo sono state implementate per quantificare questo comportamento ripetitivo in modelli animali ASD e diverse specie di roditori 3,5-7. Comportamenti di scavo sono definiti come ovvie azioni dirette del muso o zampe per spostare materiali biancheria da letto e sono stati ipotizzati essere un parametro sensibile del comportamento motorio ripetitivo 4. Qui riportiamo un nuovo tipo di scavo, che abbiamo chiamato &quot;inchworming,&quot; nel ceppo BTBR di topi. La caratterizzazione di questo romanzo comportamento può fornire una misura affidabile di un comportamento ripetitivo motore che può essere utilizzato per ulteriori validation di modelli di roditori, quali ASD, Huntington &#39;malattia o disturbo ossessivo compulsivo 8,9. Definiamo &quot;inchworming&quot; come almeno un movimento sincrono degli arti anteriori e arti posteriori verso l&#39;interno seguite da un movimento sincrono verso l&#39;esterno che porta allo spostamento della lettiera. Questo differisce dal comportamento scavo tipico in molti modi. In primo luogo, il comportamento inchworming di solito si osserva come una combinazione di episodi piuttosto che un singolo evento isolato. Al contrario, scavo può verificarsi come unico movimento coordinato sia del posteriore o zampe anteriori 3. Inoltre, movimenti inchworming tendono a verificarsi orizzontalmente sul pavimento custodia in contrapposizione alle posizioni fisse che sono caratteristici di scavo comportamenti. Infine, il comportamento inchworming seguito descritto si manifesta frequentemente nel ceppo di topi inbred BTBR ma è raramente identificato nel ceppo di controllo B6, mentre i comportamenti tipici di scavo sono comuni in ceppi B6 e BTBR di topi <sup&gt; 10. Le procedure di prova inchworming descritte in questo studio rappresentano modifiche di un minore protocollo di interazione sociale standard 1. Dato che sepoltura di marmo, scavare, e il gioco minorile hanno stabilito un valore per misurare il comportamento anomalo in modelli murini di ASD, il comportamento inchworming integra queste misure precedentemente definiti di comportamenti stereotipati. In particolare, il comportamento inchworming fornisce una misura utile alla riduzione dei stereotipie motorie ordini che vengono comunemente identificati in ASD 8,11. Inoltre, questa nuova procedura inchworming può fornire ai ricercatori un ulteriore strumento prezioso per l&#39;analisi dei comportamenti motori ripetitivi pertinenti a disturbi dello sviluppo come ASD.

<table border="1">
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 <td>30 cm X 30 cm Plexiglas box with lid</td>
 <td></td>
 <td></td>
 <td>Can be constructed </td>
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 <td>IR Camera </td>
 <td>Survshop (Calgary, Alberta)</td>
 <td>Sony CCD Camera DP955V- 30' Infrared Armor Dome </td>
 <td>Find a camera with high-resolution and zoom capabilities</td>
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 <td>DVR</td>
 <td>Supercircuits (Austin, Texas)</td>
 <td>BLACK Enterprise-Class 4-Channel H.264 security DVR with DVD Burner</td>
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inchworming: a novel motor stereotypy in the btbr t+ itpr3tf/j mouse model of autism

Disturbo dello Spettro Autistico (ASD) è un disordine dello sviluppo neurologico comportamentale definita caratterizzata dalla diminuzione della reciproca interazione sociale, comunicazione anomala e comportamenti ripetitivi con interesse limitato. La diagnosi si basa su criteri clinici, tutti i modelli di roditori potenzialmente rilevanti di questo disturbo eterogeneo dovrebbero idealmente riassumere questi tratti comportamentali diverse. Il tf BTBR T + Itpr3 / J (BTBR) mouse è un modello animale consolidata di ASD, mostrando comportamenti ripetitivi come l&#39;aumento governare, così come rigidità cognitiva. Per quanto riguarda l&#39;interazione sociale e l&#39;interesse, il test di gioco minorile è stato impiegato in diversi modelli di roditori di ASD. Qui, dimostriamo che quando i topi BTBR sono testati in una custodia interazione sociale giovanile contenente biancheria da letto di segatura, che mostrano un movimento di scavo sincrono ripetitivo. Questo comportamento motorio ripetitivo, denominato &quot;inchworming,&quot; è stato nominatoa causa della natura stereotipica dei movimenti presentati dai topi mentre si muove orizzontalmente sul pavimento. Topi Inchworming devono usare le loro anteriori e arti posteriori in sincronia per spostare la biancheria da letto, eseguendo un minimo di un attivo e un movimento verso l&#39;esterno. Anche se entrambi (B6) topi BTBR e C56BL/6J presentano questo comportamento, i topi BTBR dimostrano una durata significativamente maggiore e la frequenza di inchworming e una latenza ridotta per avviare inchworming quando sono immessi in un recinto letti. Concludiamo che questo comportamento appena descritto fornisce una misura di una stereotipia motore ripetitivo che può essere facilmente misurata in modelli animali di ASD.

La versione modificata del test di gioco minorile qui descritto può essere usato per osservare e analizzare il romanzo comportamento scavo ripetitivo definito inchworming. Inchworming è esposta ad una misura molto maggiore dai topi BTBR rispetto ai controlli B6. In una tipica sessione di 10 minuti, i topi BTBR visualizzerà il comportamento inchworming distinto (sincrono verso l&#39;interno e verso l&#39;esterno il movimento delle zampe, nel tentativo di spostare la biancheria da letto segatura) per circa 5 minuti, o ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Inchworming: A Novel Motor Stereotypy in the BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J Mouse Model of Autism at JoVE.com

Inchworming: A Novel Motor Stereotypy in the BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J Mouse Model of Autism

Inchworming è un movimento di scavo sincrono altamente ripetitivo visualizzato dal BTBR T + Itpr 3TF / J (BTBR) i topi, quando sono immessi in una gabbia test con biancheria da letto di segatura sufficiente. La procedura è una modifica del protocollo di interazione sociale giovanile e viene qui utilizzato per valutare stereotipie motorie ripetitive relative al disturbo dello spettro autistico.

Inchworming: A Novel Motor stereotipia nel BTBR<em&gt; T<sup&gt; +</sup&gt; Itpr3<sup&gt; Tf</sup</em&gt; / J modello murino di autismo

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a behaviorally defined neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by decreased reciprocal social interaction, abnormal ...

inchworming-novel-motor-stereotypy-btbr-t-itpr3tfj-mouse-model

Research

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Behavior

Inchworming: A Novel Motor Stereotypy in the BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J Mouse Model of Autism

11.5K Views.  University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine.  Inchworming è un movimento di scavo sincrono altamente ripetitivo visualizzato dal BTBR T + Itpr 3TF / J (BTBR) i topi, quando sono immessi in una gabbia test con biancheria da letto di segatura sufficiente. La procedura è una modifica del protocollo di interazione sociale giovanile e viene qui utilizzato per valutare stereotipie motorie ripetitive relative al disturbo dello spettro autistico. 

Video: Inchworming: A Novel Motor Stereotypy in the BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J Mouse Model of Autism

Fat Preference: A Novel Model of Eating Behavior in Rats

Obesity is a growing problem in the United States of America, with more than a third of the population classified as obese. One factor contributing to this multifactorial disorder is the consumption of a high fat diet, a behavior that has been shown to increase both caloric intake and body fat content. However, the elements regulating preference for high fat food over other foods remain understudied.
To overcome this deficit, a model to quickly and easily test changes in the preference for dietary fat was developed. The Fat Preference model presents rats with a series of choices between foods with differing fat content. Like humans, rats have a natural bias toward consuming high fat food, making the rat model ideal for translational studies. Changes in preference can be ascribed to the effect of either genetic differences or pharmacological interventions. This model allows for the exploration of determinates of fat preference and screening pharmacotherapeutic agents that influence acquisition of obesity.

Dietary fat content influences both energy intake and body fat composition in mammals. By examining rats&#8217; preference for high fat food in a series of choice experiments, it is possible to test genetic differences and pharmacological interventions on their preference for high fat food.

Preferenza Grasso: un modello Novel of Eating Comportamento in Rats

Obesity is a growing problem in the United States of America, with more than a third of the population classified as obese. One factor contributing to ...

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Comportamento

Compensatory Limb Use and Behavioral Assessment of Motor Skill Learning Following Sensorimotor Cortex Injury in a Mouse Model of Ischemic Stroke

Mouse models have become increasingly popular in the field of behavioral neuroscience, and specifically in studies of experimental stroke. As models advance, it is important to develop sensitive behavioral measures specific to the mouse. The present protocol describes a skilled motor task for use in mouse models of stroke. The Pasta Matrix Reaching Task functions as a versatile and sensitive behavioral assay that permits experimenters to collect accurate outcome data and manipulate limb use to mimic human clinical phenomena including compensatory strategies (i.e., learned non-use) and focused rehabilitative training. When combined with neuroanatomical tools, this task also permits researchers to explore the mechanisms that support behavioral recovery of function (or lack thereof) following stroke. The task is both simple and affordable to set up and conduct, offering a variety of training and testing options for numerous research questions concerning functional outcome following injury. Though the task has been applied to mouse models of stroke, it may also be beneficial in studies of functional outcome in other upper extremity injury models.

Mouse models have become increasingly popular in studies of behavioral neuroscience. As models advance, it is important to develop sensitive behavioral measures specific to the mouse. This protocol describes the Pasta Matrix Reaching Task, which is a skilled motor task for use in mouse models of stroke.

Compensativa Limb uso e comportamentale valutazione delle abilità di apprendimento Motor seguito Sensomotoria Cortex Infortunio in un modello murino di ictus ischemico

Mouse models have become increasingly popular in the field of behavioral neuroscience, and specifically in studies of experimental stroke. As models ...

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.

Test funzione sensoriale e multisensoriale in bambini con disturbo dello spettro autistico

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

Paw-Dragging: a Novel, Sensitive Analysis of the Mouse Cylinder Test

The cylinder test is routinely used to predict focal ischemic damage to the forelimb motor cortex in rodents. When placed in the cylinder, rodents explore by rearing and touching the walls of the cylinder with their forelimb paws for postural support. Following ischemic injury to the forelimb sensorimotor cortex, rats rely more heavily on their unaffected forelimb paw for postural support resulting in fewer touches with their affected paw which is termed forelimb asymmetry. In contrast, focal ischemic damage in the mouse brain fails to result in comparable consistent deficits in forelimb asymmetry. While forelimb asymmetry deficits are infrequently observed, mice do demonstrate a novel behaviour post stroke termed &#8220;paw-dragging&#8221;. Paw-dragging is the tendency for a mouse to drag its affected paw along the cylinder wall rather than directly push off from the wall when dismounting from a rear to a four-legged stance. We have previously demonstrated that paw-dragging behaviour is highly sensitive to small cortical ischemic injuries to the forelimb motor cortex. Here we provide a detailed protocol for paw-dragging analysis. We define what a paw-drag is and demonstrate how to quantify paw-dragging behaviour. The cylinder test is a simple and inexpensive test to administer and does not require pre-training or food deprivation strategies. In using paw-dragging analysis with the cylinder test, it fills a niche for predicting cortical ischemic injuries such as photothrombosis and Endothelin-1 (ET-1)-induced ischemia &#8211; two models that are ever-increasing in popularity and produce smaller focal injuries than middle cerebral artery occlusion. Finally, measuring paw-dragging behaviour in the cylinder test will allow studies of functional recovery after cortical injury using a wide cohort of transgenic mouse strains where previous forelimb asymmetry analysis has failed to detect consistent deficits.

Classical forelimb asymmetry analysis of the cylinder test is routinely used to assess behavioural deficits in rats following brain injury or stroke; however, it fails to detect consistent deficits in mice. This study demonstrates that quantifying paw-dragging behaviour is a more sensitive analysis of brain injury in mice.

Paw-trascinamento: un romanzo, analisi sensibile del cilindro di prova del mouse

The cylinder test is routinely used to predict focal ischemic damage to the forelimb motor cortex in rodents. When placed in the cylinder, rodents explore ...

Electrophysiological Motor Unit Number Estimation (MUNE) Measuring Compound Muscle Action Potential (CMAP) in Mouse Hindlimb Muscles

Compound muscle action potential (CMAP) and motor unit number estimation (MUNE) are electrophysiological techniques that can be used to monitor the functional status of a motor unit pool in vivo. These measures can provide insight into the normal development and degeneration of the neuromuscular system. These measures have clear translational potential because they are routinely applied in diagnostic and clinical human studies. We present electrophysiological techniques similar to those employed in humans to allow recordings of mouse sciatic nerve function. The CMAP response represents the electrophysiological output from a muscle or group of muscles following supramaximal stimulation of a peripheral nerve. MUNE is an electrophysiological technique that is based on modifications of the CMAP response. MUNE is a calculated value that represents the estimated number of motor neurons or axons (motor control input) supplying the muscle or group of muscles being tested. We present methods for recording CMAP responses from the proximal leg muscles using surface recording electrodes following the stimulation of the sciatic nerve in mice. An incremental MUNE technique is described using submaximal stimuli to determine the average single motor unit potential (SMUP) size. MUNE is calculated by dividing the CMAP amplitude (peak-to-peak) by the SMUP amplitude (peak-to-peak). These electrophysiological techniques allow repeated measures in both neonatal and adult mice in such a manner that facilitates rapid analysis and data collection while reducing the number of animals required for experimental testing. Furthermore, these measures are similar to those recorded in human studies allowing more direct comparisons.

Electrophysiological Motor Unit Number Estimation MUNE Measuring Compound Muscle Action Potential CMAP in Mouse Hindlimb Muscles

We present refined protocols that allow in vivo monitoring of motor unit function in the mouse. Techniques to measure compound muscle action potential (CMAP) and motor unit number estimation (MUNE) in the mouse hind limb muscles innervated by the sciatic nerve are described.

Elettrofisiologici Motore Unità Numero Stima (MUNE) la misura del potenziale composto muscolare azione (CMAP) nei muscoli degli arti posteriori del mouse

Compound muscle action potential (CMAP) and motor unit number estimation (MUNE) are electrophysiological techniques that can be used to monitor the ...

A Novel Approach to Assess Motor Outcome of Deep Brain Stimulation Effects in the Hemiparkinsonian Rat: Staircase and Cylinder Test

Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus is an effective treatment option for Parkinson&#39;s disease. In our lab we established a protocol to screen different neurostimulation patterns in hemiparkinsonian (unilateral lesioned) rats. It consists of creating a unilateral Parkinson&#39;s lesion by injecting 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the right medial forebrain bundle, implanting chronic stimulation electrodes into the subthalamic nucleus and evaluating motor outcomes at the end of 24 hr periods of cable-bound external neurostimulation. The stimulation was conducted with constant current stimulation. The amplitude was set 20% below the individual threshold for side effects. The motor outcome evaluation was done by the assessment of spontaneous paw use in the cylinder test according to Shallert and by the assessment of skilled reaching in the staircase test according to Montoya. This protocol describes in detail the training in the staircase box, the cylinder test, as well as the use of both in hemiparkinsonian rats. The use of both tests is necessary, because the staircase test seems to be more sensitive for fine motor skill impairment and exhibits greater sensitivity to change during neurostimulation. The combination of the unilateral Parkinson model and the two behavioral tests allows the assessment of different stimulation parameters in a standardized way.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective treatment option for Parkinson's disease. We established a study design to screen novel stimulation paradigms in rats. The protocol describes the use of the staircase test and cylinder test for motor outcome assessment in DBS treated hemiparkinsonian rats.

Un nuovo approccio per valutare il risultato del motore di cerebrale profonda effetti di stimolazione nel ratto Hemiparkinsonian: Scala e cilindro di prova

Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus is an effective treatment option for Parkinson&#39;s disease. In our lab we established a protocol to ...

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

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

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

Esplorazione oggetto romanzo come un test Potenziale di ordine superiore ripetitivi comportamenti nei topi

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

The "Motor" in Implicit Motor Sequence Learning: A Foot-stepping Serial Reaction Time Task

This protocol describes a modified serial reaction time (SRT) task used to study implicit motor sequence learning. Unlike the classic SRT task that involves finger-pressing movements while sitting, the modified SRT task requires participants to step with both feet while maintaining a standing posture. This stepping task necessitates whole body actions that impose postural challenges. The foot-stepping task complements the classic SRT task in several ways. The foot-stepping SRT task is a better proxy for the daily activities that require ongoing postural control, and thus may help us better understand sequence learning in real-life situations. In addition, response time serves as an indicator of sequence learning in the classic SRT task, but it is unclear whether response time, reaction time (RT) representing mental process, or movement time (MT) reflecting the movement itself, is a key player in motor sequence learning. The foot-stepping SRT task allows researchers to disentangle response time into RT and MT, which may clarify how motor planning and movement execution are involved in sequence learning. Lastly, postural control and cognition are interactively related, but little is known about how postural control interacts with learning motor sequences. With a motion capture system, the movement of the whole body (e.g., the center of mass (COM)) can be recorded. Such measures allow us to reveal the dynamic processes underlying discrete responses measured by RT and MT, and may aid in elucidating the relationship between postural control and the explicit and implicit processes involved in sequence learning. Details of the experimental set-up, procedure, and data processing are described. The representative data are adopted from one of our previous studies. Results are related to response time, RT, and MT, as well as the relationship between the anticipatory postural response and the explicit processes involved in implicit motor sequence learning.

The &quot;Motor&quot; in Implicit Motor Sequence Learning: A Foot-stepping Serial Reaction Time Task

We introduce the foot-stepping serial reaction time (SRT) task. This modified SRT task, complementing the classic SRT task that involves only finger-pressing movement, better approximates daily sequenced activities and allows researchers to study the dynamic processes underlying discrete response measures and disentangle the explicit process operating in implicit sequence learning.

Il "motore" a motore implicito sequenza di apprendimento: una reazione seriale un passo piede volta compito

This protocol describes a modified serial reaction time (SRT) task used to study implicit motor sequence learning. Unlike the classic SRT task that ...

A Novel Single Animal Motor Function Tracking System Using Simple, Readily Available Software

We have recently demonstrated that implanting intracortical microelectrodes in the motor corteces of rats&#160;results in immediate and lasting motor deficits. Motor impairments were manually quantified through an open field grid test to measure the gross motor function and through a ladder test to measure the fine motor function. Here, we discuss a technique for the automated quantification of the video-recorded tests using our custom Capadona Behavioral Video Analysis System: Grid and Ladder Test, or BVAS. Leveraging simple and readily available coding software (see the Table of Materials), this program allows for the tracking of a single animal on both the open field grid and the ladder tests. In open field grid tracking, the code thresholds the video for intensity, tracks the position of the rat over the 3 min duration of the grid test, and analyzes the path. It then computes and returns measurements for the total distance traveled, the maximum velocity achieved, the number of left- and right-handed turns, and the total number of grid lines crossed by the rat. In ladder tracking, the code again thresholds the video for intensity, tracks the movement of the rat across the ladder, and returns calculated measurements including the time it took the rat to cross the ladder, the number of paw slips occurring below the plane of the ladder rungs, and the incidence of failures due to stagnation or reversals. We envision that the BVAS developed here can be employed for the analysis of motor function in a variety of applications, including many injury or disease models.

The current study aimed to automate the quantification of motor deficits in rats. The initial evaluation model assesses motor loss resulting from an intracortical microelectrode implantation in the motor cortex. We report on the development and use of a tracking algorithm using easily adaptable, simple, and readily available coding software.

Una funzione motoria animale singola romanzo Tracking System utilizzando il Software semplice, prontamente disponibile

We have recently demonstrated that implanting intracortical microelectrodes in the motor corteces of rats&#160;results in immediate and lasting motor ...

Using the Race Model Inequality to Quantify Behavioral Multisensory Integration Effects

Multisensory integration research investigates how the brain processes simultaneous sensory information. Research on animals (mainly cats and primates) and humans reveal that intact multisensory integration is crucial for functioning in the real world, including both cognitive and physical activities. Much of the research conducted over the past several decades documents multisensory integration effects using diverse psychophysical, electrophysiological, and neuroimaging techniques. While its presence has been reported, the methods used to determine the magnitude of multisensory integration effects varies and typically faces much criticism. In what follows, limitations of previous behavioral studies are outlined and a step-by-step tutorial for calculating the magnitude of multisensory integration effects using robust probability models is provided.

The current study aims to provide a step-by-step tutorial for calculating the magnitude of multisensory integration effects in an effort to facilitate the production of translational research studies across diverse clinical populations.

Utilizzo della disuguaglianza del modello di gara per quantificare gli effetti di integrazione multisensoriali comportamentali

Multisensory integration research investigates how the brain processes simultaneous sensory information. Research on animals (mainly cats and primates) ...