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

以下の実験で使用した成体雄マウスを作製し、暗14時間の光と10時間（20時6:00時間）概日周期で、22℃の周囲温度でベイラー大学で飼育しました。マウスは、食物および水を自由に摂取アクセスを与えました。マウスへのすべての手順は、実験動物の管理と使用に関する健康ガイドラインの国立研究所を遵守していたし、動物プロトコルは、ベイラー大学動物実験委員会によって承認されました。マウスは、昼前/午後で試験しました。研究者の下にあるすべての手順については臭いを除去し、汚染を防ぐために手袋を着用しなければなりません。 非社会的な臭気の調製<ol><li>新鮮な非社会的な匂いにテストの毎日を準備します。 注：研究者は臭いを準備するために手袋を使用する必要があります。 <ol><li>水各10mlで3遠心管を埋めます。 </li><li>ピペット15ミリリットル＆＃にバナナエキス100μlの160; 1秒15ミリリットルコニカルチューブに円錐管とアーモンドエキス100μlの：100希釈。 注：第15ミリリットル管が水のみが含まれます。 </li></ol></li></ol>社会においの調製<ol><li>発生する朝のテストに新たな社会的臭気を準備します。少なくとも3日間洗浄し、マウスの同じ番号が含まれていなかった2つのケージから社会匂いを取得します。試験対象と同じ性別のマウスからの社会的臭気を取得します。 注：これらは、室温で保存すると、強力で一貫性のある臭いを維持するために4~6時間以内に使用すべきです。 <ol><li>決定どのように多くの社会的な臭気綿棒を作成する必要があります。テストされている各マウスは、社会臭い1、および社会的臭気2から3からの3つの綿棒が表示されます。 </li><li>汚れたケージの下部にジグザグ状に綿棒を拭くことによって社会的な臭いを準備します。先端にしがみついて、余分な寝具を振り払います。 </li><li>蓋付きまたはパラフィルムで覆われたビーカー内の大きなガラスの瓶に保管スワブ。社会臭1と社会臭い2秒ごとに1つのコンテナを指定します。 </li></ol></li><li>実験的な試験室の外に臭気源ケージを維持します。 </li></ol>試験マウスの3順化<ol><li>手袋の上に置き、試験しようとするマウスを計量し、上にワイヤ蓋と除去された水のボトルとクリーンケージに個別に配置します。 </li><li>マウスは試験室以外の部屋で45分間、新しいケージに順応することを可能にします。部屋には異常な臭いや騒音がないことを確認します。 </li><li>テストは約45分かかりますので、現在のマウスをテストする前に権利を順応さクリーンケージにテストされるべき次のマウスを置くことによって順化時間をずらします。 </li></ol>テストルームの4準備<ol><li>新鮮な綿棒、実験用テープ、社会的な臭気スワブを含むボトル、n個のチューブを入れます試験室で蓋付きの社会的な臭気、マイクロピペット、2タイマ、および廃液ボトル。 </li><li>試験室は、臭気、騒音、明るい光の適度に自由であることを確認してください。香りのコロンまたはローションを着用しないでください。 注：観察者は、試験期間中にガムや飴を噛むされるべきではないと強い臭気食品への露出を制限するようにしてください。 </li></ol> 5.テスト手順<ol><li>試験室に、そのケージに順応させたマウスを持参し、着席しながら閲覧するための快適な高さにカウンターの上にケージを置きます。 </li><li> 2分毎にのために行の各臭気を3回提示します。 表1に見ることができる提示順序を使用してください。 <ol><li>綿棒、再キャップ臭気源の先端までに試験される香りで、付臭剤のピペットを50μl。ケージのワイヤー上部を持ち上げ、水のボトル口に綿棒の無香料、木製の端を挿入し、pushinGトップへのワイヤの下側から貫通長さ。臭気汚染が回避されるように、指を含め、何にも綿の先端に触れないようにしてください。 </li><li>綿の終了の約1インチをケージに垂れ下がるまで水ボトル開口部を介して綿棒を描き続けています。ラボのテープを使用して、ケージの側面に綿棒の木の端を貼り付けます。 注：蓋が戻ってケージの上に落下させないように注意して、試験マウスを乱す大きな音を発生させます。 </li><li>すぐに2分間のタイミングを開始します。 2分間のプレゼンテーションを時間を計るために1つのタイマーを使用してください。 2分間の試験中に香りをスニッフィング費やした累積時間を記録します。独立したストップウォッチを使用して、動物のスニッフィングの行動をカウントします。動物の鼻が鼻〜2センチメートルまたは先端に近いと綿の先端に向かって配向されたときにアクティブな盗聴が定義されています。 </li><li>各試験の終了後、ワイヤカバーを上げ、国連を通じて下方に引いて、綿棒を削除蓋のderside（これはワイヤーに触れ綿棒を防止することによって臭気汚染を回避します）。 500ミリリットル廃棄ボトルで使用されるスワブを密封します。 </li><li>準備し、次の綿棒を挿入し、タイミングを開始します。各試行間間隔の間に約1分を許可します。各香りは2分毎にのために、3回連続で提示されるまで操作を続行します。 </li></ol></li><li>マウスはすべての試験を完了した後は、試験室の外のゴミ箱に使用綿棒を含む廃棄ボトルを空にすることができます。そのホームケージにマウスを返します。 </li></ol> 6.分析<ol><li> ANOVAは、ニューマン·クールズ続いて、双方向または重大な馴化を決定するために、同様の事後検定（連​​続した同じ匂いスニッフィング少ない時間）、およびdishabitutation（より多くの時間の新しい香りをスニッフィング）を用いた匂い条件ごとに各グループのデータを分析します。 </li></ol>

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The authors have nothing to disclose.

本論文で得られた結果は、マウスに最適です。マウスはすぐに慣れ、その後、新規の臭いに強い反応を示しています。この方法における重要なステップの一つは、悪臭の製造です。研究者は、汚染を防止するために、互いから臭気を分離するために細心の注意を取る必要があります。もう一つの重要な側面は、綿棒の提示です。研究者はマウスが先端を調査することができるように綿の先端?...

マウスは、他の個人を認識するため、食品を見つける、新しい環境をナビゲートするための嗅覚に依存していて、性行動1-3。これは、研究者は、実験動物が食物を伴う行動試験、社会的相互作用、またはマウスからの応答を誘発することを目的と任意の臭いを投与する前香りの機能感を持っているかどうかを確立することが不可欠です。行動試験の他のタイプが実行される前に、臭いを検出し、区別するマウスの能​​力を確立すべきであるので、臭覚障害または異なる臭気を区別できないことは、行動パラダイムの多種多様な偽陽性または陰性につながる可能性があります。 嗅覚馴化/脱馴化試験は、最初、1980年代4に記載しました。試験は博士によるマウスでの使用に適合されています。ムーヤンとジャクリーン·クローリー5。これは、研究者はESTAを可能にする、シンプルで安価な試験でありますマウスが検出され、悪臭を区別することができますblish。テストの嗅覚に加えて、この試験は、研究者がマウスの一般的な動作を観察することを可能にし、早期のテスト計画において行われる必要があります。マウスの移動に関する定性的観察は、不安、活動のレベル、および食品の臭いに対する社会的な匂いに対する反応の兆候は、テストを行うことが可能性がある新たな分野をシグナリングすることができます。 この試験では、様々な悪臭に浸した綿棒を3回行のマウスに提示されます。臭気の各繰り返し提示すると、マウスは、その後の各プレゼンテーションでそれを調査するより少ない時間を費やして、綿棒に慣らすます。新たな臭気が提示されると、脱馴化が発生し、典型的なマウスは、現在および以前の臭気5とを区別できることを示し、綿棒を調べる多 ​​くの時間を過ごすことになります。この試験は、一度に1つのマウスに投与し、45分ACCを備えていますlimation期間は、試験の45分が続きます。 この試験は、実施するのが容易であるが、それは、マウスの嗅覚システムに関する高度な問題を調査するために使用することができます。このような埋設食品検査として嗅覚のその他の人気の試験は、単に臭覚障害の有無を確立します。しかし、嗅覚差別と慣れ試験は、研究者がマウスで臭気を検出する能力を持っているが、異なる匂いとを区別することができないだけで判断することができます。馴化と脱馴化のパターンは、新しい変異体が臭気6,7を区別することができることを確立するために使用されています。驚くべき研究では、FadoolとのKv1.3チャネルの遺伝子標的欠失を有するそのマウスを示すために臭いの複雑な混合物を使用した同僚は、マウス8、通常よりも良い非常によく似た匂いを識別することができる「スーパーsmellers」です。 新しいノックアウトマウスモデルを調べるときには、establisに便利です時間の基本的な感覚​​のタスクの正常な動作の存在。テスト計画の初期に行われた場合、臭気差別や慣れテストが調査員に異常な行動を観察する機会を与えてくれます。これらの観​​察結果は、変異体の特性を交絡に起因するその後の検査で偽陽性または陰性の結果を防ぐことができます。研究者は、社会的行動を調査し続けている基本的な嗅覚機能を確認する必要性は、ますます重要になります。変異株における嗅覚を調べることに加えて、この試験は、すべての匂い刺激に対する薬理学的治療は、特に社会的な匂い刺激に対する動物の応答を増加させるかどうかなど、またはそれらの応答が増加した場合、特定の問題に対処するために使用することができます。

<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.

記載されたプロトコルに続いて、結果は10成人（生後90〜120）の雄のC57BL / 6Jマウスと8つの雄FVB混合背景株（生後50〜70）を使用して記録しました。試験は、複数日にわたって単一の研究者によって行われました。グラフ上の各点は、臭気を調査費やした平均時間を表します。 水に浸した綿棒が最初に導入された場合、マウスはこの新規オブジェクト（：最初の3つのデータ...

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.

マウスにおける臭気差別と馴化のためのテスト

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

testing-for-odor-discrimination-and-habituation-in-mice

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JoVE Journal

Behavior

17.5K ビュー.  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. 

ビデオ: 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.

マウスにおけるビデオ解析システムを用いた文脈と手掛り恐怖条件付け試験

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 ...

行動学

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.

小型·大齧歯類モデルとバーンズ迷路テスト戦略

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.

変更された穴会は - マウスとラットにおける行動、認知と社会的相互作用を測定する

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

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.

モリス水迷路試験：マウス系統およびテスト環境の最適化

 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.

豊かな環境の住宅マウス用のプロトコル

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.

シンプルでコンピュータ支援嗅覚テストマウス用

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.

ラットにおける試合のサンプル テストを延期臭ベースを使用してメタ認知的応答のテスト

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.

マウスで個別にアクティブとパッシブのふがいなさを測定

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.

においの風洞媒介昆虫行動アッセイ

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 ...

Novel Object Recognition and Object Location Behavioral Testing in Mice on a Budget

Ethologically relevant behavioral testing is a critical component of any study that uses mouse models to study the cognitive effects of various physiological or pathological changes. The object location task (OLT) and the novel object recognition task (NORT) are two effective behavioral tasks commonly used to reveal the function and relative health of specific brain regions involved in memory. While both of these tests exploit the inherent preference of mice for the novelty to reveal memory for previously encountered objects, the OLT primarily evaluates spatial learning, which relies heavily on hippocampal activity. The NORT, in contrast, evaluates non-spatial learning of object identity, which relies on multiple brain regions. Both tasks require an open-field-testing arena, objects with equivalent intrinsic value to mice, appropriate environmental cues, and video recording equipment and the software. Commercially available systems, while convenient, can be costly. This manuscript details a simple, cost-effective method for building the arenas and setting up the equipment necessary to perform the OLT and NORT. Furthermore, the manuscript describes an efficient testing protocol that incorporates both OLT and NORT and provides typical methods for data acquisition and analysis, as well as representative results. Successful completion of these tests can provide valuable insight into the memory function of various mouse model systems and appraise the underlying neural regions that support these functions.

Here we provide a protocol which includes comprehensive instructions for the economical establishment of murine object location and novel object recognition behavioral testing, including the design, cost, and construction of required equipment as well as execution of behavioral testing, data collection, and analysis.

Methods Article

マウスにおける臭気差別と馴化のためのテスト