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

I topi maschi adulti utilizzati per la seguente esperimento sono stati generati e ospitati presso la Baylor University ad una temperatura ambiente di 22 ° C, con una luce 14 ore e 10 ore scuro (20:00-6:00 h) ciclo diurno. I topi sono stati dati ad libitum l&#39;accesso al cibo e all&#39;acqua. Tutte le procedure per i topi erano in conformità con il National Institutes of linee guida sanitarie per la cura e l&#39;uso di animali da laboratorio e il protocollo di origine animale è stato approvato dal Baylor University Animal Care and Use Committee. I topi sono stati testati nella tarda mattinata / primo pomeriggio. Per tutte le procedure sotto l&#39;investigatore deve indossare i guanti per eliminare gli odori e prevenire la contaminazione. 1. Preparazione di odori Non-sociali <ol><li> Preparare gli odori non sociali freschi ogni giorno di test. Nota: L&#39;investigatore dovrebbe usare i guanti per preparare gli odori. <ol><li> Riempire 3 tubi da centrifuga con 10 ml di acqua ciascuno. </li><li> Dispensare 100 ml di estratto di banana in un 15 ml &amp; #160; tubo conico e 100 ml di estratto di mandorle in un secondo tubo da 15 ml di una diluizione 1: 100. Nota: Il terzo tubo 15 ml contiene solo acqua. </li></ol></li></ol> 2. Preparazione di odori sociali <ol><li> Preparare gli odori sociali fresche sul avverrà il test mattina. Ottenere odori sociali da due gabbie che non sono stati puliti per almeno tre giorni e contengono numeri uguali di topi. Ottenere odori sociali da topi dello stesso sesso come cavia. Nota: questi devono essere conservati a temperatura ambiente e deve essere utilizzato entro 4-6 ore per mantenere l&#39;odore forte e coerente. <ol><li> Determinare quanti odore sociale tamponi di cotone devono essere creati: ogni topo in fase di test si presenterà con tre tamponi da odori sociali 1, e tre da odori sociali 2. </li><li> Preparare gli odori sociali strofinando un tampone di cotone in un zig-zag attraverso il fondo di una gabbia sporca. Scrollarsi di dosso qualsiasi biancheria da letto in eccesso aggrappato alla punta. </li><li> Conservare tamponi in grandi vasi di vetro con coperchi o in bicchieri coperto con parafilm. Designare un contenitore per l&#39;odore sociale 1 e un secondo per l&#39;odore sociali 2. </li></ol></li><li> Mantenere gabbie fonte dell&#39;odore al di fuori della sala prove sperimentali. </li></ol> 3. acclimatazione del mouse test <ol><li> Indossare guanti e pesare il mouse per essere testato e posizionare singolarmente in una gabbia pulita con un coperchio filo sulla parte superiore e la bottiglia d&#39;acqua rimossa. </li><li> Lasciare che il mouse si adatti alla nuova gabbia per 45 minuti in una stanza diversa da quella sala prove. Verificare che non vi siano odori insoliti o rumori nella stanza. </li><li> Come test dura circa 45 minuti, scaglionare i tempi di acclimatazione mettendo il prossimo mouse per essere testato in una gabbia pulita di acclimatare destra prima di testare il mouse corrente. </li></ol> 4. Preparazione della camera Testing <ol><li> Posizionare tamponi freschi di cotone, nastro di laboratorio, le bottiglie contenenti tamponi odore sociali, i tubi di non-sociali odori, una micropipetta, due timer, e una bottiglia di rifiuti con un coperchio in sala prove. </li><li> Assicurarsi che la sala prove è ragionevolmente privo di odori, rumori forti, e la luce brillante. Non indossare colonia profumate o lozioni. Nota: L&#39;osservatore non deve essere gomme da masticare o caramelle durante il periodo di prova e dovrebbe cercare di limitare la loro esposizione a forti alimenti odori. </li></ol> 5. Procedura di test <ol><li> Portare il mouse acclimatati nella sua gabbia nella stanza di prova e posizionare la gabbia sul banco ad una altezza che è comodo per la visualizzazione da seduti. </li><li> Presentare ogni odore 3 volte di fila per 2 minuti ogni volta. Utilizzare l&#39;ordine di presentazione che si può trovare nella tabella 1. <ol><li> Pipettare 50 ml di odorizzante nel profumo, da sottoporre alla punta del tampone di cotone e tappare la fonte dell&#39;odore. Sollevare la parte superiore del filo della gabbia e inserire il inodore, fine di legno del tampone nell&#39;apertura bottiglia d&#39;acqua, pushing lunghezza attraverso dalla parte inferiore del filo verso l&#39;alto. Evitare di toccare la punta di cotone per qualsiasi cosa, anche le dita, in modo che la contaminazione odore è evitata. </li><li> Continuare a disegnare il tampone attraverso l&#39;apertura della bottiglia di acqua fino a circa 1 pollice di fine cotone pende nella gabbia. Fissare la fine di legno del tampone a lato della gabbia con del nastro laboratorio. Nota: Fare attenzione a non lasciare che il coperchio ricadere sulla gabbia, provocando un forte rumore che possa disturbare il mouse test. </li><li> Iniziare immediatamente la sincronizzazione per 2 min. Utilizzare uno timer per cronometrare il 2 min presentazione. Registrare il tempo totale trascorso ad annusare l&#39;odore durante il processo 2 min. Contare il comportamento sniffing dell&#39;animale utilizzando un cronometro separato. Sniffing attivo viene definita quando il naso dell&#39;animale è orientata verso la punta di cotone con il suo naso ~ 2 cm più vicino alla punta. </li><li> Dopo il completamento di ogni prova, sollevare il coperchio filo e rimuovere il tampone di cotone tirandolo verso il basso attraverso l&#39;ONUderside del coperchio (questo evita la contaminazione odore impedendo la punta di cotone di toccare il filo). Sigillare il tampone utilizzato in bottiglia rifiuti una da 500 ml. </li><li> Preparare e inserire il successivo tampone e iniziare il cronometraggio. Lasciare circa 1 minuto tra ogni intervallo inter-trial. Continuare fino a quando ogni profumo è stato presentato per tre volte di fila, per 2 minuti ogni volta. </li></ol></li><li> Una volta che il mouse ha completato tutte le prove, svuotare il flacone rifiuti contenenti i tamponi di cotone usati in un cestino al di fuori della sala prove. Ritorna il mouse per sua gabbia casa. </li></ol> 6. Analisi <ol><li> Analizzare i dati per ogni gruppo per condizione odore utilizzando due ANOVA seguito da Newman-Keuls o un test simile post hoc per determinare significativi assuefazione (meno tempo sniffing stessi odori successivi), e dishabitutation (più tempo annusando un odore nuovo). </li></ol>

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N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Simple+behavioral+assessment+of+mouse+olfaction.">Simple behavioral assessment of mouse olfaction.</a> Curr Protoc Neurosci. Chapter 8 (Unit 8 24), (2009).</li><li>Pan, Y. W., Kuo, C. T., Storm, D. R., Xia, Z. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Inducible+and+targeted+deletion+of+the+ERK5+MAP+kinase+in+adult+neurogenic+regions+impairs+adult+neurogenesis+in+the+olfactory+bulb+and+several+forms+of+olfactory+behavior.">Inducible and targeted deletion of the ERK5 MAP kinase in adult neurogenic regions impairs adult neurogenesis in the olfactory bulb and several forms of olfactory behavior.</a> PLoS ONE. 7, e49622 (2012).</li><li>Wesson, D. W., Levy, E., Nixon, R. A., Wilson, D. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Olfactory+dysfunction+correlates+with+amyloid-beta+burden+in+an+Alzheimer's+disease+mouse+model.">Olfactory dysfunction correlates with amyloid-beta burden in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model.</a> J Neurosci. 30, 505-514 (2010).</li><li>Fadool, D. A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Kv1.3+channel+gene-targeted+deletion+produces+'Super-Smeller+Mice'+with+altered+glomeruli,+interacting+scaffolding+proteins,+and+biophysics.">Kv1.3 channel gene-targeted deletion produces 'Super-Smeller Mice' with altered glomeruli, interacting scaffolding proteins, and biophysics.</a> Neuron. 41, 389-404 (2004).</li><li>Arakawa, H., Arakawa, K., Blanchard, D. C., Blanchard, R. 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The authors have nothing to disclose.

I risultati forniti nel presente documento sono ottimali per i topi. I topi dimostrano una forte risposta ad un romanzo odore, quindi abituare rapidamente. Una delle fasi principali di questo metodo è la preparazione degli odori. L&#39;investigatore deve fare molta attenzione per isolare gli odori gli uni dagli altri per evitare contaminazioni. Un altro aspetto fondamentale è la presentazione del tampone di cotone. L&#39;investigatore deve risolvere la migliore posizione della punta di cotone in modo che il mouse può...

I topi sono dipendenti olfatto per la navigazione nuovi ambienti, trovare cibo, per riconoscere gli altri individui, e il comportamento sessuale 1-3. È essenziale che gli investigatori stabilire se animali da esperimento hanno un senso dell&#39;olfatto funzionamento prima di somministrare test comportamentali che coinvolgono il cibo, interazione sociale, o eventuali odori destinati a provocare una risposta dal mouse. Anosmia o l&#39;incapacità di distinguere tra diversi odori, potrebbe causare falsi positivi o negativi in ​​una vasta gamma di paradigmi comportamentali, quindi la capacità di un mouse per rilevare e distinguere gli odori devono essere stabiliti prima che vengano eseguiti altri tipi di test comportamentali. Il test assuefazione / Dishabituation olfattivo è stato descritto nel 1980 4. Il test è stato adattato per l&#39;uso nei topi da DRS. Mu Yang e Jacqueline Crawley 5. Questo è un test semplice ed economico che permette al ricercatore di estáblish che un mouse in grado di rilevare e distinguere tra gli odori. Oltre ai test olfattivo, questo test permette al ricercatore di osservare il comportamento generale del mouse e dovrebbe avvenire precocemente in un regime di test. Osservazioni qualitative riguardanti la locomozione del topo, segni di ansia, livello di attività, e la risposta agli odori sociali contro gli odori degli alimenti possono segnalare nuovi settori in cui il test potrebbe essere effettuata. In questo test, tamponi di cotone immerso in vari odori sono presentati a un mouse per tre volte consecutive. Con ogni presentazione ripetuta di un odore, il mouse abituarsi al tampone di cotone, spendendo meno tempo indagando con ogni presentazione successiva. Quando un nuovo odore è presentata, Dishabituation si verifica, e un tipico mouse trascorrere più tempo indagando il tampone, indicando che può discriminare tra gli odori attuali e precedenti 5. Questa prova viene somministrato a un topo alla volta e comprende un 45 min accperiodo limation seguita da 45 minuti di prove. Anche se questo test è di facile esecuzione può essere usato per studiare domande sofisticate sul sistema del mouse olfattivo. Altri test popolari dell&#39;olfatto, come il test di cibo sepolto, semplicemente stabilire la presenza o l&#39;assenza di anosmia. Tuttavia, la discriminazione e assuefazione prova olfattiva permette al ricercatore di determinare che un mouse ha non solo la capacità di rilevare gli odori ma può discriminare tra differenti odori. Il modello di assuefazione e Dishabituation è stato utilizzato per stabilire che i nuovi mutanti possono discriminare tra odori 6,7. In uno studio sorprendente, Fadool e colleghi hanno usato miscele complesse di odori per dimostrare che i topi con delezione del gene targeting del canale Kv1.3 sono &quot;super smellers&quot; che possono discriminare gli odori molto simili meglio di topi normali 8. Nell&#39;esaminare un nuovo modello di topo knockout è utile establish presenza di un comportamento normale per compiti sensoriali di base. Una volta fatto presto in un regime di test, la discriminazione odore e prova assuefazione dà un investigatore la possibilità di osservare eventuali comportamenti insoliti. Queste osservazioni potrebbero prevenire risultati falsi positivi o negativi in ​​prove successive che sono attribuibili a confondere caratteristiche del mutante. Come i ricercatori continuano a studiare il comportamento sociale la necessità di verificare la funzione olfattiva di base diventa sempre più importante. Oltre a esaminare l&#39;olfatto in linee mutanti, questo test può essere utilizzato per affrontare questioni specifiche, come se un trattamento farmacologico specifico aumenta la risposta di un animale a stimoli sociali odore o se i loro aumenti di risposta a tutti gli stimoli odore.

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

testing for odor discrimination and habituation in mice

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

Seguendo il protocollo descritto, i risultati sono stati registrati usando dieci adulti (giorno postnatale 90-120) maschi C57BL / 6J e otto FVB misto sfondo ceppo maschio (giorno postnatale 50-70). Il test è stato effettuato da un singolo operatore su più giorni. Ogni punto sui grafici rappresenta il tempo medio trascorso investigare un odore. Quando viene introdotto il tampone di cotone imbevuto di acqua, i topi trascorrono gran parte del tempo a studiare questo nuovo oggetto (Fig...

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

Testing for Odor Discrimination and Habituation in Mice

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

Test per Odore Discriminazione e assuefazione nei topi

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

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Behavior

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

Video: Testing for Odor Discrimination and Habituation in Mice

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

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

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

Contestuali e Cued paura condizionata test utilizzando un sistema di video Analizzare in topi

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

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Barnes Maze Testing Strategies with Small and Large Rodent Models

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

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

Barnes strategie di sperimentazione Maze con piccole e grandi modelli di roditori

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

The Modified Hole Board - Measuring Behavior, Cognition and Social Interaction in Mice and Rats

This protocol describes the modified hole board (mHB), which combines features from a traditional hole board and open field and is designed to measure multiple dimensions of unconditioned behavior in small laboratory mammals (e.g., mice, rats, tree shrews and small primates). This paradigm is a valuable alternative for the use of a behavioral test battery, since a broad behavioral spectrum of an animal&#8217;s behavioral profile can be investigated in one single test.
The apparatus consists of a box, representing the &#8216;protected&#8217; area, separated from a group compartment. A board, on which small cylinders are staggered in three lines, is placed in the center of the box, representing the &#8216;unprotected&#8217; area of the set-up. The cognitive abilities of the animals can be measured by baiting some cylinders on the board and measuring the working and reference memory. Other unconditioned behavior, such as activity-related-, anxiety-related- and social behavior, can be observed using this paradigm. Behavioral flexibility and the ability to habituate to a novel environment can additionally be observed by subjecting the animals to multiple trials in the mHB, revealing insight into the animals&#8217; adaptive capacities.
Due to testing order effects in a behavioral test battery, na&#239;ve animals should be used for each individual experiment. By testing multiple behavioral dimensions in a single paradigm and thereby circumventing this issue, the number of experimental animals used is reduced. Furthermore, by avoiding social isolation during testing and without the need to food deprive the animals, the mHB represents a behavioral test system, inducing if any, very low amount of stress.

This protocol describes the modified hole board, which is a behavioral test set-up that comprises the characteristics of an open field and a traditional hole board. This set-up enables the differential analysis of unconditioned behavior of small laboratory mammals as well as the analysis of cognitive abilities.

The Hole Consiglio Modified - Behavior, Cognition e l&#39;interazione sociale in topi e ratti di misura

This protocol describes the modified hole board (mHB), which combines features from a traditional hole board and open field and is designed to measure ...

Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

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

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

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 ...

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

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

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

Morris water maze Test: Ottimizzazione per ceppo di topi e Ambiente di prova

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

A Protocol for Housing Mice in an Enriched Environment

Environmental enrichment (EE) is a housing environment for mice that boosts mental and physical health compared to standard laboratory housing. Our recent studies demonstrate that environmental enrichment decreases adiposity, increases energy expenditure, resists diet induced obesity, and causes cancer remission and inhibition in mice. EE typically consists of larger living space, a variety of &#8216;toys&#8217; to interact with, running wheels, and can include a number of other novel environmental changes. All of this fosters a more complex social engagement, cognitive and physical stimulations. Importantly, the toy location and type of toy is changed regularly, which encourages the mice to adapt to a frequently changing and novel environment. Many variables can be manipulated in EE to promote health effects in mice. Thus these approaches are difficult to control and must be properly managed to successfully replicate the associated phenotypes. Therefore, the goal of this video is to demonstrate how EE is properly set up and maintained to assure a complex, challenging, and controlled environment so that other researchers can easily reproduce the protective effects of EE against obesity and cancer.

Environmental enrichment for mice requires a complex and challenging setup, as well as comprehensive husbandry and handling techniques to assure robust metabolic and anti-cancer effects in the mice. This protocol provides detailed procedures to reproduce the above mentioned effects in mice.

Un protocollo per Mice Housing in un ambiente arricchito

Environmental enrichment (EE) is a housing environment for mice that boosts mental and physical health compared to standard laboratory housing. Our recent ...

Simple and Computer-assisted Olfactory Testing for Mice

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

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

Semplice e assistita da computer Olfattivo Test per Mice

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

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

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

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

Test per metacognitivo risponde utilizzando un odore-based ritardato Test Match a campione in ratti

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

Measuring Active and Passive Tameness Separately in Mice

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

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

Attiva e passiva docilità separatamente nei topi di misura

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

A Wind Tunnel for Odor Mediated Insect Behavioural Assays

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

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

Una galleria del vento per odore mediata saggi comportamentali dell'insetto

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