The authors have no acknowledgements.

Dichiarazione etica: Tutte le procedure sono state approvate dal comitato della University of Sydney Etica Animale ed adeguato alle Sanitario Nazionale e medicina Research Council di linee guida in Australia. Le procedure sono state effettuate su topi C57 / BL6J che sono stati allevati presso l&#39;Università di Sydney Bosch roditore strumento. Tutti i topi sono stati alloggiati in un unico locale sufficientemente ventilato in 21 ° C di temperatura ambiente in un ciclo luce-buio 12 ore con le luci alle 0600 ore in gabbie ventilazione individuale con ad libitum l&#39;accesso al cibo secco e acqua. Femmine tardo-gravidanza sono stati assegnati in modo casuale a condizioni di alloggio standard o arricchito l&#39;ambiente. 1. Housing (livelli di arricchimento): <ol><li> Ottenere 4 tarda gravidanza adulti topi femmina. Casualmente assegna 2 per la condizione standard e porre ciascuno di essi in una gabbia mouse standard pulito (ingombro 391 x 199 x 160 mm), contenente un mouse igloo rosso. Per la condizione arricchito, posizionare il remavorazio 2 topi in una singola gabbia topo-sized clean (ingombro 462 x 403 x 404 mm). </li><li> Nella gabbia di arricchimento, posizionare una varietà di oggetti progettati per aumentare la stimolazione sensoriale e motoria (ad esempio ruote corsa, stimoli visivi, batuffoli di cotone profumate, velcro). </li><li> Ogni 2 o 3 giorni si muovono questi oggetti circa all&#39;interno della gabbia; aggiornare qualsiasi che sono stati distrutti. </li><li> Dopo lo svezzamento a 21 giorni dopo la nascita, gli animali di sesso e il luogo in alloggi separati maschio-femmina in linea con le condizioni ambientali che sono state sollevate. Per la condizione arricchito in modo che ci sono tra i 3 ei 10 topi per gabbia con 2 e 5 topi per lo standard. Iniziare i test comportamentali una volta raggiunta l&#39;età adulta animali (12-14 settimane di età). </li></ol> 2. La costruzione del puzzle Box <ol><li> Ottenere 6 parti di acrilico bianco (o altro materiale non poroso): uno 750 x 280 mm, due 280 x 250 mm, due 750 x 250 mm, ed uno 150 x 280 mm (vedi figura 1). </li><li> Ottenere un pezzo di acrilico nero 280 x 250 mm, con una apertura quadrata di 40 x 40 mm tagliato in un lato di questo pezzo (vedi Figura 1). </li><li> Assemblare il puzzle Box come segue: usare il pezzo mm 750 x 280 come il fondo della scatola, utilizzare 280 x 250 mm pezzi come le estremità della scatola, ed i pezzi da 750 x 250 mm come lati della scatola. </li><li> Misurare 150 millimetri nella casella da un&#39;estremità, e posizionare il pezzo nero di acrilico attraverso la scatola in modo che si divide in due scomparti (uno grande, uno piccolo) con il filo apertura con il fondo della scatola. </li><li> Prendete il pezzo di mm acrilico bianco 150 x 280 e posizionarlo in cima al vano più piccolo della scatola assicurandosi che copre l&#39;area completamente, fornendo una camera oscura &quot;goal-box&quot;. Applicare questo pezzo di acrilico al corpo scatola principale cerniere, o lasciare libero di essere completamente rimosso durante la prova comportamentale. </li><li> Prendere 3 pezzi di acrilico (tre 4 x 120 mm) e unisciti a fare una &quot;u-shapchannel ed &quot;. </li></ol><img alt="Figura 1" fo:content-width="5in" src="/files/ftp_upload/52225/52225fig1highres.jpg" width="500" /> Figura 1: Schema del compito Puzzle Box. Il Puzzle Box è una scatola acrilica costituito da uno spazio aperto-campo (600 x 280 mm) e una zona riparata goal-box (150 x 280 mm), che misura 750 x 280 mm di tutti. Una apertura 40 x 40 mm all&#39;interno della partizione (grigio) che separa le due aree permette animali di accedere alla zona obiettivo-scatola coperta dal campo aperto. Questa apertura è bloccata con ostacoli sempre più difficili da rimuovere come test progredisce. Gli animali sono sottoposti ad un protocollo di cinque giorni, che consiste di quattro condizioni ostruzione con tre prove per ogni condizione. 3. Esecuzione della Task Puzzle Box <ol><li> Pulire accuratamente la scatola di puzzle con il 70% di alcol. Ripetere questo passaggio tra ogni testati su animali. </li><li> Posizionare un pulito il mouse igloo rosso nel ar obiettivo-boxEA del Puzzle Box, e sostituire il coperchio sul gol-box. </li><li> Se vi è una condizione di ostruzione in fase di test, posizionare l&#39;ostruzione all&#39;interno della soglia della meta-box (vedi figura 2). </li><li> Posizionare il mouse in fase di test nella sezione in campo aperto del Puzzle Box, orientato verso la meta-box, e alla più lontana dalla meta-box. </li><li> Registrare il tempo impiegato per tutte e quattro le zampe dell&#39;animale per entrare nella sezione obiettivo-box del Puzzle Box. </li><li> Se un animale non entra in porta-box, interrompere il processo una volta raggiunto il limite di tempo (vedi tabella 1). </li><li> Una volta che una prova è terminato, rimuovere l&#39;animale dalla Puzzle Box e metterlo in una gabbia un&#39;azienda distinta fino all&#39;inizio della prova successiva. Mantenere un gap 60 a 180 sec tra processi per ciascun animale. </li><li> Per ciascun animale, effettuare tre prove al giorno per cinque giorni consecutivi di test, con quattro condizioni ostruzione e tre prove di ciascuna condizione. Il terzo triAl di una data condizione ostruzione deve sempre somministrato su un giorno successivo (vedi Tabella 1). </li></ol><img alt="Tabella 1" fo:content-width="5in" src="/files/ftp_upload/52225/52225table1.jpg" width="500" /> Tabella 1: Schema del compito Puzzle Box. Il compito Puzzle Box viene eseguita per cinque giorni, e consiste di quattro condizioni ostruzione. Ci sono tre prove su ciascuno dei primi quattro giorni, e uno il quinto giorno. Ogni condizione di ostruzione ha tre prove; le prime due in un giorno, e il terzo giorno immediatamente successivo. La prima prova di una condizione di ostruzione mira a testare native capacità di risolvere problemi, il secondo processo esamina acquisizione compito e rinforzo, e la terza prova è usato come un test per la conservazione della soluzione e di richiamo. <img alt="Figura 2" fo:content-width="6in" src="/files/ftp_upload/52225/52225fig2highres.jpg" width="600" /> Figura 2: ostruirecondizioni di ioni all&#39;interno del compito Puzzle Box. Diagrammi di dell&#39;arena Puzzle Box e le condizioni di ostruzione utilizzati in questo studio. (A) Condizione 0 (C0), senza ostruzioni presenti all&#39;interno della porta tra il campo aperto e aree goal-box. (B) Condizione 1 (C1 ), con un canale presente &quot;U&quot; all&#39;interno della porta tra il campo aperto e aree obiettivo-box. (C) Condizione 2 (C2), in cui il canale è riempito con lettiera pulita. (D) Condizione 3 (C3 ), con un &quot;plug tissue&quot; presente nella porta tra il campo aperto e aree obiettivo-box. (E) Condizione 4 (C4) con un &quot;plug foam&quot; presente nella porta tra il campo aperto e meta-box aree. Dimensioni dell&#39;arena sono secondo elencato in Metodi e Figura 1. 4. Interpretazione dei dati <ol><li> Rappresentare i dati sia come tempo necessario per completare il processo (comprese le prove nulli in cui gli animali non è stata completata l&#39;operazione entro il termine previsto) o come il numero di prove nulli. </li><li> Utilizzare una misure ripetute ANOVA per valutare l&#39;effetto della condizione abitativa, all&#39;andamento nel Puzzle Box, con il tipo di ostruzione / condizioni (C) e il numero di task (T) entro soggetti fattori e il livello di arricchimento (standard contro arricchito) tra i soggetti-factor . </li></ol>

The authors declare they have no competing financial interests.

I dati presentati dimostrano che il Puzzle Box può essere utilizzato in modo efficace per valutare l&#39;impatto di EE. Topi allevati in ambienti arricchiti sempre preso molto meno tempo per risolvere i puzzle di ostruzione all&#39;interno di questa analisi comportamentale che ha animali allevati all&#39;interno di condizioni standard di laboratorio. Inoltre, questa differenza era più importante nella prima prova per tre delle quattro condizioni testate, suggerendo EE ha una maggiore influenza sulla native capacità d...

L&#39;arricchimento ambientale (EE) può essere definita come un ambiente che forniscono gli animali con maggiori opportunità di interazione sociale, attività motoria, e una maggiore stimolazione sensoriale del solito vissuto in un environment.EE standard di laboratorio ha dimostrato di influire in modo coerente il comportamento degli animali, determinando modifiche come la riduzione dello stress e l&#39;ansia di attività legate 8-10, il miglioramento delle prestazioni in compiti di apprendimento e memoria 8,11, insorgenza precoce di coordinazione motoria e l&#39;attività esplorativa 11, cambiamenti di cure materne 8 nonché resistenza alle sostanze stupefacenti 12- 15. Inoltre, EE è stato rivelato per migliorare gli effetti delle malattie neurodegenerative, ritardando l&#39;insorgenza e diminuire la gravità dei sintomi in modelli animali di Huntington di 1-4,16, Parkinson 17 e malattia di Alzheimer 18. Questi cambiamenti COrrelazione con le alterazioni anatomiche e molecolari EE è noto per indurre in tutto il cervello. Animali allevati in ambienti arricchiti dalle prime fasi di sviluppo mostrano una miriade di cambiamenti neurali, tra cui un aumento di peso del cervello e lo spessore corticale, dendritica ramificazione 9,2-22 e la densità sinaptica 23. EE può alterare sia il livello e la tempistica di espressione del fattore di crescita 9,24-30, che ha dimostrato di contribuire allo sviluppo accelerato sensoriale 25,26,28,29, mnemonico 30, nonché circuiti motori 31,32. Il lavoro precedente ha rivelato a risultati contraddittori momenti in cui si esamini l&#39;impatto di EE, senza tener conto dei diversi tipi di animali e ambienti utilizzati all&#39;interno dei singoli studi 9,24,27,30. Attualmente, non esiste compito comportamentale coerente e semplice che può essere utilizzato per misurare l&#39;efficacia di diversi paradigmi EE in ceppi diversi e specIES di animali. Il compito Puzzle Box è stato concepito come un semplice test per determinare problema nativa di un animale solving 7. Gli animali posti in zona aperta sono tenuti a rimuovere ostacolare materiali situati all&#39;interno di una piccola apertura per poter accedere a una coperta regione / rifugio. Ciascun soggetto è dato tre prove con lo stesso ostruzione per valutare tre diversi attributi cognitive. La prima prova si ottiene un indicazione di base di capacità di problem solving intrinseca o nativa. La seconda prova, eseguire lo stesso giorno, dà qualche indicazione della capacità dell&#39;animale di migliorare e rafforzare le strategie per rimuovere l&#39;ostruzione specifica in tal modo. La terza prova, condotta il giorno seguente, permette di comprendere meglio la capacità del soggetto di trattenere e richiamare la soluzione imparato al compito. La motivazione per risolvere questi &quot;enigmi ostruzione&quot; di animali può essere variata, potenzialmenteevocando un innato desiderio di evitare campi aperti e cercare riparo, così come un&#39;unità intrinseca di esplorare l&#39;ambiente circostante 6,7. La moltitudine di potenziali conducenti comportamentali alla base del desiderio di risolvere il puzzle Box suggerisce che diverse aree del cervello sono coinvolte nella mediazione prestazioni compito. Il lavoro precedente ha mostrato che in modelli murini di schizofrenia, corteccia prefrontale e l&#39;ippocampo sono coinvolti nell&#39;acquisizione di questo compito 5. Uno studio della lesione nei ratti ha rivelato anche un gran numero di regioni cerebrali coinvolte nella prestazione Puzzle Box, tra cui vari nuclei del talamo, l&#39;ipotalamo, il cervelletto, e le strutture limbiche. Insieme, questi risultati indicano che impegnarsi in questo problem solving compito comporta una serie di strutture neurali associate alla funzione cognitiva. Il Puzzle Box è stato utilizzato con successo per valutare la capacità di problem solving di topi, così come deficit cognitivi esposto da mmodelli di urina di schizofrenia 5-7. Prestazioni del compito ha dimostrato di essere altamente coerente, e correlare bene con risultati di altri test cognitivi comportamentali 6. L&#39;obiettivo di questo lavoro è stato quindi di adattare il compito Puzzle Box per diventare un mezzo semplice ed affidabile per determinare l&#39;efficacia di 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.

I risultati qui descritti sono un campione rappresentativo, con i dati provenienti dalle diverse coorti composte da diverse cucciolate. Tutti i test comportamentali è stato condotto tra il 0700 e 1100 ore, con ordine sperimentazione casuale di animali all&#39;interno di una coorte. Animali sollevate in un ambiente arricchito (n = 14, 7 femmine e 7 maschi) hanno significativamente meno tempo per risolvere i compiti ostruzione all&#39;interno della scatola Puzzle di quelle sollevate in un ambiente standard (n = 15, 7 fem...

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;uso del Puzzle Box come un mezzo per valutare l&#39;efficacia di arricchimento ambientale

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

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JoVE Journal

Behavior

11.6K Views.  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.

Video: 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.

La Task Congruenza crossmodali come un mezzo per ottenere una misura comportamentale Obiettivo della mano di gomma Illusion Paradigma

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

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Comportamento

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.

Valutare forelimb Funzione dopo unilaterale cervicale SCI utilizzando Compiti Novel: Arto Step-alternanza, instabilità posturale e Pasta Handling

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.

Il Swim test forzato come modello di depressione-come 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 ...

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.

Valutare le molteplici dimensioni di ingaggio per caratterizzare Learning: una prospettiva neurofisiologica

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

Vagus Nerve Stimulation as a Tool to Induce Plasticity in Pathways Relevant for Extinction Learning

Extinction describes the process of attenuating behavioral responses to neutral stimuli when they no longer provide the reinforcement that has been maintaining the behavior. There is close correspondence between fear and human anxiety, and therefore studies of extinction learning might provide insight into the biological nature of anxiety-related disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, and they might help to develop strategies to treat them. Preclinical research aims to aid extinction learning and to induce targeted plasticity in extinction circuits to consolidate the newly formed memory. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a powerful approach that provides tight temporal and circuit-specific release of neurotransmitters, resulting in modulation of neuronal networks engaged in an ongoing task. VNS enhances memory consolidation in both rats and humans, and pairing VNS with exposure to conditioned cues enhances the consolidation of extinction learning in rats. Here, we provide a detailed protocol for the preparation of custom-made parts and the surgical procedures required for VNS in rats. Using this protocol we show how VNS can facilitate the extinction of conditioned fear responses in an auditory fear conditioning task. In addition, we provide evidence that VNS modulates synaptic plasticity in the pathway between the infralimbic (IL) medial prefrontal cortex and the basolateral complex of the amygdala (BLA), which is involved in the expression and modulation of extinction memory.

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has emerged as a tool to induce targeted synaptic plasticity in the forebrain to modify a range of behaviors. This protocol describes how to implement VNS to facilitate the consolidation of fear extinction memory.

Stimolazione del nervo vago come strumento per indurre plasticità Percorsi rilevanti per l&#39;apprendimento Extinction

Extinction describes the process of attenuating behavioral responses to neutral stimuli when they no longer provide the reinforcement that has been ...

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.

Errori come un mezzo per ridurre impulsivo scelta alimentare

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.

Un metodo per testare l &#39;effetto dei segnali ambientali sul comportamento di accoppiamento in<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.

L'attività di supinazione manopola: Un metodo semi-automatico per la valutazione della funzione degli arti anteriori in ratti

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.

Metodi di abbinamento e manutenzione coppia della Nuova Zelanda bianco conigli (Cuniculus di Oryctolagus) Via etogramma comportamentale, monitoraggio e gli interventi

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.

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.

Valutazione della coerenza delle brevi narrazioni dei genitori per quanto riguarda il loro bambino utilizzando la procedura di campionamento del discorso di cinque minuti

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