The authors have no acknowledgements.

倫理声明：すべての手順は、シドニー大学の動物倫理委員会によって承認され、国民健康とオーストラリアのガイドラインの医学研究審議会に適合した。手順はシドニーボッシュげっ歯類施設の大学で飼育したC57 / BL6Jマウスで行った。すべてのマウスは乾燥食品や水への随意アクセスを個別換気ケージで0600時間で上のライトが付いている12時間の明暗サイクルで21℃の周囲温度でシングル十分に換気された部屋に収容した。後期妊娠雌を無作為に標準または環境豊かな住宅事情に割り当てられていた。 1.住宅（濃縮レベル）： <ol><li> 4後期妊娠成熟雌マウスを得る。ランダムに標準状態に2を割り当て、1赤、マウスのイグルーを含むクリーンな標準的なマウスケージ（全体寸法391 X 199 X 160ミリメートル）にそれらのそれぞれに配置します。濃縮された状態の場合は、REMAを配置シングルクリーンラットサイズのケージにining 2マウス（全体寸法462 X 403 X 404ミリメートル）。 </li><li>濃縮ケージに、感覚および運動刺激（例えば走行車輪、視覚刺激、香りのコットンボール、マジックテープ）を高めるように設計さまざまなオブジェクトを配置します。 </li><li> 2〜3日ごとに、ケージ内の約これらのオブジェクトを移動させる。破壊されたそのいずれかをリフレッシュ。 </li><li>彼らが提起された環境条件と一致して男女の分離された筐体に21日間の出生後の、セックスの動物と場所で離乳時に。豊富な条件のための標準のための2と5匹のマウスにケージ当たり3と10匹のマウスの間であることを確認してください。動物が成人期（生後12〜14週）に達すると行動試験を開始する。 </li></ol>秘密箱の2建設<ol><li>白アクリル（または他の非多孔性材料）の6個を入手します。1 750 X 280ミリメートル、2 280 X 250ミリメートル、2 750×250 mmであり、1 150×280ミリメートル（ 図1を参照してください。）。 </li><li> 40×40ミリメートルの正方形開口部がこの作品の片側にカットして、黒のアクリルの一枚280 X 250ミリメートルを取得します（ 図1を参照）。 </li><li>箱の側面として、280×250箱の両端mmの片、および750×250 mmのピースを使用して、箱の底として750 X 280ミリメートルピースを使用します。次のようにパズルボックスを組み立てます。 </li><li>一端から箱に150ミリメートルを測定し、箱の底部と開口部のフラッシュとの二つの区画（1大、小1）に分割し、そのように箱全体にアクリルの黒い部分を置く。 </li><li>白いアクリルの150×280ミリメートルピースを取り、それが暗い」目標ボックス」チャンバを提供する、完全にこの領域をカバーして確認して箱の小さいコンパートメントの上に置きます。ヒンジでメインボックスの本体にアクリルのこの作品を貼付、または完全に行動試験中に除去されて自由にしておきます。 </li><li>アクリル（3 4×120ミリメートル）の3枚を取り、「U-SHAPを作るために参加するED」チャンネル。 </li></ol><img alt="図1" fo:content-width="5in" src="/files/ftp_upload/52225/52225fig1highres.jpg" width="500" /> 図1：秘密箱タスクの模式図 。秘密箱は全部で750のx 280ミリメートルを測定し、オープンフィールドエリア（600×280ミリメートル）とシェルタードゴール·ボックス領域（150×280ミリメートル）からなるアクリルボックスです。二つの領域を分離するパーティション（グレー）内の40×40 mmの開口部は、動物がオープンフィールドからカバーゴール-ボックス領域にアクセスすることができます。この開口部は、テストの進行に伴って削除することがますます困難な障害物でブロックされている。動物は各条件について3回の試験を有する4つの閉塞状態からなる、5日間プロトコールを受ける。 秘密箱タスクの3.ランニング<ol><li>徹底的に70％アルコールとの秘密箱をきれいに。試験した各動物の間に、この手順を繰り返します。 </li><li>目標ボックスAR内クリーン赤マウスイグルーを配置秘密箱のEA、ゴール·ボックスのふたを交換してください。 </li><li>テストされる閉塞状態が存在する場合、目標ボックスの戸口内閉塞を配置（ 図2参照）。 </li><li>パズルの目標ボックスを志向ボックス、および目標-boxから遠い端でのオープンフィールドセクションにテストされているマウスを置きます。 </li><li>秘密箱の目標ボックスセクションに入るために、動物のすべての4つの足にかかった時間を記録します。 </li><li>動物が目標ボックスに入らない場合は、設定された制限時間は（ 表1参照）に達すると、裁判を終了します。 </li><li>裁判が終了すると、秘密箱から動物を削除し、次の試行が開始されるまで別々の保持ケージに入れてください。各動物のための臨床試験の間に60から180秒のギャップを保つ。 </li><li>各動物について、4閉塞条件と各条件の3回の試験で、試験を5日間連続して1日当たり3試験を行う。第三のトライ与えられた閉塞状態のアルは常に続く日に投与する必要があり（ 表1参照）。 </li></ol><img alt="表1" fo:content-width="5in" src="/files/ftp_upload/52225/52225table1.jpg" width="500" /> 表1：秘密箱タスクのスキーム 。秘密箱タスクは5日間実行し、4閉塞条件で構成されている。 3最初の4日間のそれぞれに臨床試験、および5日目の1があります。各閉塞状態が3回の試験を有する。 1日に最初の2、そして三日目には、すぐに次のよう。閉塞状態の最初の試験はネイティブ問題解決能力をテストすることを目的とし、二審は、タスクの取得と強化を調べ、第三のトライアルは、溶液の保持とリコールのためのアッセイとして使用されます。 <img alt="図2" fo:content-width="6in" src="/files/ftp_upload/52225/52225fig2highres.jpg" width="600" /> 図2：邪魔秘密箱タスク内イオン条件。この研究の中で使用秘密箱アリーナと閉塞条件の概略図。（A）条件0（C0）、オープンフィールドとゴールボックス領域の間の戸口内の障害物の存在を持つ。（B）条件1（C1 ）、オープンフィールドとゴールボックス領域間の出入り口内の「uが形状」チャンネルが存在である。（C）チャネルがクリーン寝具材料が充填されている条件2（C2）、（D）条件3（C3 ）、オープンフィールドとゴールボックスエリア間の戸口内に存在する「組織プラグ」と。（E）オープンフィールドとゴール·ボックスの間に戸口内に存在する「泡プラグ」との条件4（C4）エリア。アリーナの寸法は、方法と、図1に記載されているの通りである。 データの4.解釈<ol><li> COMに取らどちら時間としてデータを表すまたはnull試行回数として（ヌル動物は指定された制限時間内にタスクを完了しなかった試験を含む）裁判をpleteの。 </li><li>被験者間要因として閉塞タイプ/条件（C）と、タスク番号（T）被験者内要因と（濃縮された対標準）濃縮レベルで、パズルボックス内の性能に住宅条件の効果を評価するために、反復測定ANOVAを使用してください。 </li></ol>

The authors declare they have no competing financial interests.

提示されたデータは、パズルボックスEEの影響を評価するために有効に利用することができることを実証している。濃縮された環境で飼育し​​たマウスは、一貫して標準的な実験条件内で飼育される動物をやったよりも、この行動のアッセイ内の障害物パズルを解決するために大幅に少ない時間がかかりました。また、この差はタスクによって提示された問題の解決策を強化するか、保持?...

環境エンリッチメント（EE）は、一貫してもたらす、動物の行動に影響を与えることが示されている社会的相互作用、運動活性、通常は標準的な実験室environment.EE経験よりも感覚刺激のために増加した機会を有する動物を提供する周囲と定義することができるそのようなストレスや不安関連の活動8-10の削減、学習や記憶のタスク8,11のパフォーマンスを改善、運動協調と探索活動11の早期発症、母親の介護の変化8だけでなく、中毒性物質に対する耐性などの変更12- 15。さらに、EEは、発症遅延およびハンチントン1-4,16、パーキンソン17およびアルツハイマー病の18の動物モデルにおける症状の重症度を減少させる、神経変性疾患の影響を改善することが明らかにされている。 これらの変更は、COREEは脳全体に誘導することが知られている解剖学的および分子変化と関連しています。開発の初期段階から濃縮環境で育った動物は、樹状が9,2-22とシナプス密度23分岐 、増加した脳重量と皮質の厚さを含む神経の変化、無数のを示しています。 EEは、感覚25,26,28,29の加速発展に寄与することが示されている成長因子の発現9,24-30、ニーモニック30、並びにモータ回路31,32のレベルおよびタイミングの両方を変更することができる。 考慮に個々の研究9,24,27,30内で使用した動物と環境の様々なタイプにすることなく、EEの影響を調査する際に以前の研究は、回相反する調査結果で明らかになった。現在、異なる株やスペックでのさまざまなEEパラダイムの有効性を測定するために使用することができず、一貫性のあるシンプルな行動のタスクがありません動物のIES。 秘密箱タスクは能力7を解決する動物のネイティブ問題を決定するために、簡単なテストとして設計されました。オープンエリアに配置された動物は、覆われた領域/避難所にアクセスするためには、小さな開口部内に位置する材料を妨害除去するために必要とされている。各被験者は、3つの異なる認知属性を評価するために、同一の障害物との3回の試験を与えられている。最初の試験は、固有またはネイティブ問題解決能力のベースライン表示が得られます。同じ日に実行二審は、改良、したがって、特定の障害物を除去するための戦略を強化する動物の能力のいくつかの指標を与える。次の日に実施第三の試験では、タスクを学んだソリューションを保持し、リコールする被験者の能力への洞察を提供しています。 動物によるこれらの「障害物パズルを &quot;解決するための動機は、潜在的に、変化させることができるオープンフィールドを回避し、避難所を追求する生来の欲求だけでなく、その周辺6,7を探索するための固有のドライブを想起させる。パズルボックスを解決するための欲求の基礎となる可能性のある行動ドライバの多数は、脳の様々な領域は、タスクのパフォーマンスを媒介に関与していることを示唆している。以前の研究は、統合失調症のマウスモデルにおいて、前頭前皮質など海馬このタスク5の買収に関与していることが示されている。ラットにおける病変の研究はまた、様々な視床核、視床、小脳、及び辺縁系構造を含むパズルボックス性能に関与する脳の多数の領域を明らかにした。まとめると、これらの知見は、この問題解決タスクに従事する認知機能に関連した神経構造のホストを含​​むことを示している。 パズルボックスmで展示されたマウスの問題解決能力、ならびに認知障害を評価するために首尾よく使用されている統合失調症5-7の尿モデル。タスクでのパフォーマンスは非常に一貫している、と他の認知行動試験6の結果とよく相関することが示されている。この研究の目的は、EEの有効性を決定する簡単かつ信頼性のある手段となることパズルボックスタスクを適合させることであった。

<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.

ここに記載された結果は、異なるリットルからなるいくつかのコホートから得たデータと、代表的なサンプルである。すべての行動試験は、コホート内の動物の無作為化試験の順で、0700と1100時間との間で行われました。豊かな環境で育った動物（N = 14、7女性と7男性）かなり標準的な環境内で発生比べパズルボックス内の閉塞タスクを解決するためのより少ない時間がかかりました（N = 15、...

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.

環境エンリッチメントの有効性を評価する手段として秘密箱の使用

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

the-use-puzzle-box-as-means-assessing-efficacy-environmental

Research

JoVE Journal

Behavior

11.5K ビュー.  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.

ビデオ: 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.

ラバーハンドイリュージョンパラダイムにおける客観行動測定値を得るための手段としてクロスモーダル一致タスク

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

行動学

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.

新規タスクを使用した片側子宮頸SCI後前肢の機能を評価する：四肢ステップ交替、姿勢の不安定やパスタの取り扱い

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.

うつ病のような動作のモデルとしての強制水泳試験

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.

神経生理学の視点：学習を特徴づけるために、エンゲージメントの複数の次元を評価します

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

Errors as a Means of Reducing Impulsive Food Choice

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

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

インパルス食品の選択を減少させる手段としてのエラー

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.

環境内の交信が交配行動に及ぼす影響を調べる方法<em&gt;ショウジョウバエ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.

ノブ外タスク: ラットの前肢関数を評価するための半自動メソッド

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.

ペアリングの方法とペア メンテナンス ニュージーランドの白のウサギ (テクニック)監視、行動の Ethogram を介してと介入

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

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

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

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

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

5分間の音声サンプル手順を用いた子どもに関する親の短い物語の一貫性の評価

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

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

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

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

スラットフローリングに収容された豚の有意義な環境濃縮と測定唾液コルチゾールの測定

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