Name: the use of the puzzle box as a means of assessing the efficacy of environmental enrichment
Uploaded: 2014-12-29T14:00:00.000+00:00
Duration: 6 min 50 s
Description: 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 authors have no acknowledgements.

윤리 문 : 모든 절차는 시드니 대학의 동물 윤리위원회의 승인을 국민 건강과 호주 가이드 라인의 의학 연구위원회 (Medical Research Council)를 본했다. 절차는 대학 시드니의 보쉬 설치류 시설에서 양육 된 C57 / BL6J 마우스에서 수행되었다. 모든 마우스는 건조 식품과 물에 대한 광고 무제한으로 액세스 할 수있는 개별 환기 케이지에서 0600 시간에 조명 12 시간 명암주기에 21 ° C의 주변 온도에서 단일 적절하게 통풍이 방에 보관되었다. 늦은 임신 여성을 무작위로 표준 또는 환경 풍부한 주거 조건에 할당되었다. 1. 주택 (농축 레벨) : <ol><li> 4 늦은 임신 성인 여성 쥐를 얻습니다. 무작위로 표준 상태에 2를 지정하고 하나의 빨간색 마우스 이글루를 포함하는 깨끗한 표준 마우스 케이지 (전체 크기 391 X 199 X 160mm)로 각각 배치합니다. 농축 된 상태의 경우, REMA를 배치ining 하나의 깨끗한 쥐 크기의 케이지에 2 마우스 (전체 치수 X 404mm 462 X 403). </li><li> 농축 케이지에, 감각과 운동 자극을 증가하도록 설계 객체의 다양한 (예 : 실행 휠, 시각적 자극, 냄새가 좋은면 공, 벨크로 스트립)를 배치합니다. </li><li> 모든 2~3일 새장 안에 대한 이러한 객체를 이동; 파괴 된 그 어떤를 새로 고칩니다. </li><li> 그들이 제기 된 환경 조건과 일치 남녀 분리 하우징 후 21 일 출생, 섹스 동물과 장소에서 이유시. 풍부한 조건은 2 케이지 당 3 10 마우스 및 표준을위한 5 마우스 사이에 있다는 것을 확인합니다. 동물 성인 (나이 12-14 주)에 도달하면 행동 테스트를 개시합니다. </li></ol> 퍼즐 상자 2. 건설 <ol><li> 6 흰색 아크릴 조각 (또는 다른 비 다공성 물질) 확보 : 한 750 X 280mm, 두 280 X 250mm, 두 750 X 250mm, 하나의 150 X 280mm (그림 1 참조). </li><li> 40 X 40mm 광장 개방이 조각의 한면으로 잘라, 검은 색 아크릴의 한 조각 280 X 250mm를 얻습니다 (그림 1 참조). </li><li> 다음과 같이 퍼즐 상자를 조립 : 상자의 바닥과 750 X 280mm 조각을 사용하여 상자의 끝, 그리고 상자의 측면과 750 X 250mm 조각으로 280 X 250mm 조각을 사용합니다. </li><li> 상자의 바닥에 구멍 플러시 (대형 하나 하나의 작은)를 하나의 끝에서 상자에 150mm를 측정하고, 두 개의 구획으로 분할하도록 상자에서 아크릴의 검은 조각을 배치합니다. </li><li> 흰색 아크릴의 150 X 280mm 조각을 가지고 어두운 &quot;목표 상자&quot;챔버를 제공, 확인 완전히이 지역을 커버하고 상자의 작은 구획 위에 놓습니다. 경첩에 의해 주요 상자의 몸에 아크릴이 조각을 부착, 또는 완전히 행동​​ 테스트 중에 제거 할 자유 둡니다. </li><li> 아크릴 (세 4 × 120mm)의 3 개를 가지고 &quot;U-shap를 만들기 위해 가입ED &quot;채널. </li></ol><img alt="그림 1" fo:content-width="5in" src="/files/ftp_upload/52225/52225fig1highres.jpg" width="500" /> 그림 1 : 퍼즐 박스 작업의 개략도. 퍼즐 박스는 오픈 필드 영역 (600 × 280mm)와 모두 750 X 280mm를 측정 숨겨 목표 박스 영역 (150 X 280mm)로 구성된 아크릴 상자입니다. 두 영역을 분리하는 파티션 (회색) 내에서 40 X 40mm 개방은 동물 열기 필드에서 덮여 목표 상자 영역에 액세스 할 수 있습니다. 이 구멍은 시험이 진행됨에 따라 제거 점점 더 어려운 장애물로 차단됩니다. 동물들은 각각 세 개의 실험 조건에 대한 네 개의 폐색 상태로 구성된 5 일간 프로토콜을 겪는다. 퍼즐 박스 작업 3. 실행 <ol><li> 철저히 70 % 알코올로 퍼즐 상자를 청소합니다. 각 시험 동물 사이에이 단계를 반복합니다. </li><li> 목표 상자 아칸소에서 깨끗한 빨간색 마우스 이글루를 배치퍼즐 박스의 개, 그리고 목표 상자의 뚜껑을 교체합니다. </li><li> 테스트되고, 폐색 상태가 발생하면, 목표 박스 내의 출입구 방해를 배치 (도 2 참조). </li><li> 마우스가 목표 상자 지향 퍼즐 박스의 오픈 필드 섹션으로, 테스트 및 목표 상자에서 마지막 인 제되고 놓습니다. </li><li> 퍼즐 상자의 목표 박스 섹션을 입력 동물의 네 발에 걸리는 시간을 기록한다. </li><li> 동물 목표 박스를 입력하지 않으면 설정된 제한 시간 (표 1 참조)에 도달하면, 시험을 종료. </li><li> 시험이 끝나면, 퍼즐 박스에서 동물을 제거하고 다음 재판이 시작될 때까지 별도의 유지 케이지에 넣습니다. 각 동물에 대한 실험 사이에 60-180 초 격차를 유지합니다. </li><li> 각 동물의 경우, 네 개의 장애물 조건과 각 조건의 세 가지 시험으로, 시험의 연속 5 일 동안 하루에 세 가지 시험을 수행합니다. 세 번째 트라이소정의 폐색 상태를 알 항상 후속 일에 투여한다 (표 1 참조). </li></ol><img alt="표 1" fo:content-width="5in" src="/files/ftp_upload/52225/52225table1.jpg" width="500" /> 표 1 : 퍼즐 박스 작업의 계획. 퍼즐 박스 작업은 5 일 동안 실행, 4 폐쇄 상태로 구성된다. 세 제 나흘 각 시험 및 일째 하나가있다. 각 방해 조건은 세 가지 시험이있다; 언젠가 처음 두, 세 번째 날 직후. 장애물 조건의 첫 번째 재판이 기본 문제 해결 능력을 테스트하는 것을 목표로, 두 번째 시험은 작업 수집 및 강화를 검사, 세 번째 시험은 솔루션 보유 및 리콜에 대한 분석으로 사용됩니다. <img alt="그림 2" fo:content-width="6in" src="/files/ftp_upload/52225/52225fig2highres.jpg" width="600" /> 그림 2 : 방해퍼즐 상자 작업 내에서 이온 상태. 퍼즐 박스 무대와 본 연구에서 사용 방해 조건의 개략도. (A) 조건 0 (C0), 오픈 필드와 목표 박스 영역 사이의 출입구 내 장애물이없는 존재와. (B) 조건 1 (C1 ), 오픈 필드와 목표 박스 영역 사이의 출입구 내에서 &quot;U 모양&quot;채널 선물. (C) 채널이 깨끗한 침구 소재로 가득 조건 2 (C2),. (D) 조건 3 (C3 ), 오픈 필드와 목표 박스 영역 사이의 출입구 내에 존재하는 &quot;조직 플러그&quot;와. (E) 오픈 필드와 목표 상자 사이의 출입구 내에 존재 &quot;폼 플러그&quot;와 조건 4 (C4) 지역. 방법 및 그림 1에 따라 경기장의 크기입니다. 데이터 4. 해석 <ol><li> 시간 중 하나가 COM에 취한 데이터를 표현또는 null 시험의 수 (null의 동물이 지정된 제한 시간 내에 작업을 완료하지 않은 시험 포함) 재판을하는 것이 현명한 방법. </li><li> 간 주제 요인으로 폐쇄 형 / 상태 (C) 및 작업 번호 (T) 내 - 과목 요인과 (농축 대 기준) 농축 수준, 퍼즐 박스 내에서 성능에 주택 조건의 효과를 평가하기 위해 반복 측정 ANOVA를 사용하여 . </li></ol>

The authors declare they have no competing financial interests.

제시된 데이터는 퍼즐 상자 효과적으로 사용될 수 EE의 영향을 평가하는 것을 보여준다. 풍부한 환경에서 발생하는 마우스는 지속적으로 표준 실험실 조건에서 제기 동물보다이 행동 분석에서 방해 퍼즐을 해결하는 데 훨씬 더 적은 시간이 걸렸습니다. 또한,이 차이는 EE 태스크가 제시 한 문제에 대한 해결책을 강화하거나 유지하는 능력을 기준으로 동물의 기본 문제 해결 능력에 더 큰 영향력을...

환경 농축 (EE)은 일관 초래, 동물의 행동에 영향을 미치는 것으로 밝혀졌다 사회적 상호 작용, 운동 활동, 통상 표준 실험실 environment.EE 경험보다 더 감각 자극에 대한 증가 된 기회를 가진 동물을 제공하는 환경으로 정의 될 수있다 이러한 학습과 기억 작업의 스트레스와 불안 관련 활동 8-10의 감소, 성능 향상 등의 변경 8, 11, 모터 조정과 탐구 활동 (11), 중독성 물질에 산모 관리 (8)뿐만 아니라 저항의 변화를 조기에 발병 12 15. 또한, EE는 발병을 지연시키고 헌팅 1-4,16, 파킨슨 (17) 및 알츠하이머 병 (18)의 동물 모델에서 증상의 중증도를 감소, 신경 퇴행성 질환의 효과를 개선하기 위해 보여왔다. 이러한 변화는 고전EE는 뇌 전반에 걸쳐 유도하는 것으로 알려져 해부학 분자 변경에 관한 것이다. 개발의 초기 단계에서 풍부한 환경에서 자란 동물 9,2-22과 시냅스 밀도 23 분기 수지상 증가 뇌 무게와 대뇌 피질의 두께를 포함하는 신경 변경의 무수를 보여준다. EE는 레벨 가속 감각 25,26,28,29 개발, 니모닉 (30)뿐만 아니라, 모터 회로들 (31, 32)에 기여하는 것으로 나타났다 성장 인자 발현 9,24-30, 양쪽의 타이밍을 변경할 수있다. 계정에 개별 연구 9,24,27,30 내에서 사용되는 동물과 환경의 다른 유형을 고려하지 않고, EE의 영향을 조사 할 때 이전 작업은 시간 모순 된 연구 결과에서 밝혀졌다. 현재, 상이한 균주의 다양한 사양 EE 패러다임의 효과를 측정하는 데 사용될 수있는 단순하고 일관된 행동 태스크가 없다동물의 이거 야. 퍼즐 박스 작업은 동물의 기본 문제는 능력 (7)을 해결 결정하는 간단한 테스트로 설계되었다. 오픈 영역에 배치 동물 덮여 지역 / 쉼터를 액세스하기 위해 작은 구멍에 위치하고 물질을 방해 제거해야합니다. 각 피실험자 세 가지인지 적 속성을 평가하기 위해 동일한 장애물 세 실험을 설명한다. 첫 시도는 고유 또는 기본 문제 해결 능력의 기준 표시를 산출한다. 동일한 날에 실행 번째 시험은을 개선하고, 따라서 특정 장애물을 제거하기위한 전략을 강화하는 동물의 능력의 어떤 표시를 제공한다. 다음 날짜에 이루어진 세 번째 시험은 작업에 학습 솔루션을 유지하고 기억하는 주체의 능력에 대한 통찰력을 제공합니다. 동물이 &quot;방해 퍼즐&quot;을 해결하기위한 동기는 잠재적으로 변화 될 수있다들판을 방지하고 주변 환경 6,7 탐험 쉼터뿐만 아니라 고유의 드라이브를 추구하는 타고난 욕망을 불러 일으킨다. 퍼즐 상자를 해결하기 위해 욕망을 기본 잠재적 인 행동 드라이버의 다수는 뇌의 다양한 영역이 작업 성능을 중재에 참여하는 것이 좋습니다. 이전 연구는 정신 분열증의 쥐 모델에서, 전두엽 피질뿐만 아니라 해마가이 작업 (5)의 인수에 참여하는 것으로 나타났습니다. 쥐의 병변 연구는 또한 다양한 시상 핵, 시상 하부, 소뇌, 그리고 변연계 구조를 포함 퍼즐 박스 성능에 관련된 뇌 영역의 큰 숫자를 공개했다. 함께, 이러한 결과는 작업을 해결하는이 문제에 관여하는 것은인지 기능과 관련된 신경 구조의 호스트를 포함 나타냅니다. 퍼즐 상자 m에 의해 전시 된 쥐의 능력을 문제 해결뿐만 아니라인지 적자를 평가하기 위해 성공적으로 사용되어왔다정신 분열증 5-7의 소변 모델. 작업의 성능은 매우 일관성이 있어야하고, 다른인지 행동 검사 (6)의 결과와 상관 관계가 밝혀졌다. 이 연구의 목적은 EE의 유효성을 판정하는 간단하고 신뢰성있는 방법이 될 퍼즐 상자 태스크에 적응하는 것이였다.

<table><tbody><tr><td>Black Acrylic Board</td><td></td><td></td><td>280 x 250 mm with a 40 x 40 mm &quot;door&quot; cut into one side</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></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 colspan="4">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&amp;nbsp;</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&amp;nbsp;</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.

여기에 설명 된 결과는 다른 새끼로 구성된 여러 동료에서 가져온 데이터, 대표 샘플입니다. 모든 행동 테스트는 코호트 내에서 동물의 무작위 시험 순서로, 0700 및 1100 시간 사이에 실시되었다. (15, 7 여성 8 남성 N = ()를 참조 풍부한 환경에서 자란 동물 (N = 14, 7 여성 7 남성) 표준 환경에서 제기보다 퍼즐 박스 내에서 방해 작업을 해결하기 위해 훨씬 적은 시간이 걸렸습니다 그림 3) (?...

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.

보충 환경의 효능을 평가하는 수단으로서 퍼즐 상자의 사용

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

11.6K 조회수.  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.

비디오: The Use of the Puzzle Box as a Means of Assessing the Efficacy of Environmental Enrichment

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.

크고 작은 설치류 모델 바네스 미로 테스트 전략

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 ...

연구

행동분석학

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.

수정 된 구멍 보드 - 마우스 및 쥐의 행동,인지 및 사회적 상호 작용을 측정

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

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.

풍부한 환경에서의 주택 마우스를위한 프로토콜

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

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

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

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

마우스의 높은 주문 반복적 인 행동에 대한 잠재적 인 분석으로 소설 개체 탐사

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

Analyzing Spatial Learning and Prosocial Behavior in Mice Using the Barnes Maze and Damsel-in-Distress Paradigms

The Barnes maze is a reliable measure of spatial learning and memory that does not require food restriction or exposure to extremely stressful stimuli. The Barnes maze can also assess other mouse behaviors, such as general motivation to escape from the maze platform and exploratory behavior. The Barnes maze can measure whether a genetic mutation or environmental variable can impact the acquisition and retention of spatial memories, as well as provide information about the search strategy employed by the mice. Here we use the Barnes maze to detect a memory deficit in adult mice following a single developmental ethanol exposure event. The newly described Damsel-in-Distress paradigm exposes a male mouse to a female mouse trapped in a chamber in the open center field of the arena. It provides an opportunity for the mouse to socially respond to the trapped female and exhibit prosocial behavior. The Damsel-in-Distress paradigm can also be used to examine mouse behavior in a novel arena and measure locomotor activity. Both the Barnes Maze and the Damsel-in-Distress protocols require minimal financial investment and most aspects of the tests can be constructed from common lab supplies. These flexible and accessible tools can also be used to detect behavioral changes over the course of development.

This protocol measures spatial learning and memory using the Barnes maze. A novel Damsel-in-Distress paradigm is used to assess locomotor activity and prosocial behavior in mice.

공간 학습 및 반 즈 미로 계 집 아이-에서-조 난 패러다임을 사용 하 여 마우스 Prosocial 동작 분석

The Barnes maze is a reliable measure of spatial learning and memory that does not require food restriction or exposure to extremely stressful stimuli. ...

A Standardized Protocol for Preference Testing to Assess Fish Welfare

Animal welfare assessment techniques try to take into consideration the specific needs and wants of the animal in question. Providing enrichment (the addition of physical objects or conspecifics in the housing environment) is often a way to give captive animals the opportunity to choose who or what they interact with and how they spend their time. A fundamental component of the aquatic environment that is often overlooked in captivity, however, is the ability for the animal to choose to engage in physical exercise. For many animals, including fish, exercise is an important aspect of their life history, and is known to have many health benefits, including positive changes in the brain and behavior. Here we present a method for assessing habitat preferences in captive animals. The protocol could easily be adapted to look at a variety of environmental factors (e.g., gravel versus sand as a substrate, plastic plants versus live plants, low flow versus high flow of water) in different aquatic species, or for use with terrestrial species. Statistical assessment of preference is carried out using Jacob&#39;s preference index, which ranks the habitats from -1 (avoidance) to +1 (most preferred). With this information, it can be determined what the animal wants from a welfare perspective, including their preferred location.

A fundamental aspect of assessing the welfare of animals in captivity is to ask whether the animals have what they want. Here, we present a protocol to determine housing preference in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) with respect to the presence/absence of environmental enrichment and access to flowing of water.

생선 복지 를 평가하기 위한 선호도 테스트를 위한 표준화된 프로토콜

Animal welfare assessment techniques try to take into consideration the specific needs and wants of the animal in question. Providing enrichment (the ...

The Innovation Arena: A Method for Comparing Innovative Problem-Solving Across Groups

Problem-solving tasks are commonly used to investigate technical, innovative behavior but a comparison of this ability across a broad range of species is a challenging undertaking. Specific predispositions, such as the morphological toolkit of a species or exploration techniques, can substantially influence performance in such tasks, which makes direct comparisons difficult. The method presented here was developed to be more robust with regard to such species-specific differences: the Innovation Arena presents 20 different problem-solving tasks. All tasks are presented simultaneously. Subjects are confronted with the apparatus repeatedly, which allows a measurement of the emergence of innovations over time - an important next step for investigating how animals can adapt to changing environmental conditions through innovative behavior.
Each individual was tested with the apparatus until it ceased to discover solutions. After testing was concluded, we analyzed the video recordings and coded successful retrieval of rewards and multiple apparatus-directed behaviors. The latter were analyzed using a Principal Component Analysis and the resulting components were then included in a Generalized Linear Mixed Model together with session number and the group comparison of interest to predict the probability of success.
We used this approach in a first study to target the question of whether long-term captivity influences the problem-solving ability of a parrot species known for its innovative behavior: the Goffin&#180;s cockatoo. We found an effect in degree of motivation but no difference in the problem-solving ability between short- and long-term captive groups.

The Innovation Arena is a novel comparative method for studying technical innovation rate per time unit in animals. It is composed of 20 different problem-solving tasks, which are presented simultaneously. Innovations can be carried out freely and the setup is robust with regard to predispositions on an individual, population or species level.

혁신 경기장 : 그룹 간 혁신적인 문제 해결을 비교하는 방법

Problem-solving tasks are commonly used to investigate technical, innovative behavior but a comparison of this ability across a broad range of species is ...

A Behavioral Task Modeling 'Everyday Memory' in an Event Arena to Foster Allocentric Representations for Rodents

The event arena provides an optimal platform to investigate learning and memory. The appetitive everyday memory task described in this paper provides a robust protocol for the investigation of episodic and spatial memory in rodents, which specifically fosters allocentric memory representation. Rats are trained to find and dig for food during the encoding phase and, after a time delay, rats are given a choice to find the reward food pellet in the correct location. There are two key elements that promote the use of an allocentric strategy in this protocol: 1) rats start from different start locations within and between sessions, 2) a stable home-base is deployed where rats have to carry their food to eat. By means of these modifications, we effectively encourage the rodents to use allocentric spatial representations to perform the task. In addition, the task provides a good paradigm for within-subject experimental design and allows experimenters to manipulate different conditions to reduce variability. Used in conjunction with behavioral and physiological techniques, the resulting rodent model provides an effective test-bed for future research into memory formation and retention.

The goal of this optimized 'everyday memory' protocol in an event arena was to employ a stable home-base that encourages the use of allocentric spatial representations. This animal model provides an effective test-bed for future research into the formation and retention of event memories using behavioral and physiological techniques.

The event arena provides an optimal platform to investigate learning and memory. The appetitive everyday memory task described in this paper provides a ...

Assessment of Mouse Judgment Bias through an Olfactory Digging Task

Judgment biases (JB) are differences in the way that individuals in positive and negative affective/emotional states interpret ambiguous information. This phenomenon has long been observed in humans, with individuals in positive states responding to ambiguity 'optimistically' and those in negative states instead showing 'pessimism'. Researchers aiming to assess animal affect have taken advantage of these differential responses, developing tasks to assess judgment bias as an indicator of affective state. These tasks are becoming increasingly popular across diverse species and fields of research. However, for laboratory mice, the most widely used vertebrates in research and a species heavily relied upon to model affective disorders, only one JB task has been successfully validated as sensitive to changes in affective state. Here, we provide a detailed description of this novel murine JB task, and evidence of its sensitivity to mouse affect. Though refinements are still necessary, assessment of mouse JB opens the door for answering both practical questions regarding mouse welfare, and fundamental questions about the impact of affective state in translational research.

This article provides a detailed description of a novel mouse judgment bias protocol. Evidence of this olfactory digging task's sensitivity to affective state is also demonstrated and its utility across diverse research fields is discussed.

후각 파기 작업을 통한 마우스 판단 편향 평가

Judgment biases (JB) are differences in the way that individuals in positive and negative affective/emotional states interpret ambiguous information. This ...

Environmental Modulations of the Number of Midbrain Dopamine Neurons in Adult Mice

Long-lasting changes in the brain or &#8216;brain plasticity&#8217; underlie adaptive behavior and brain repair following disease or injury. Furthermore, interactions with our environment can induce brain plasticity. Increasingly, research is trying to identify which environments stimulate brain plasticity beneficial for treating brain and behavioral disorders. Two environmental manipulations are described which increase or decrease the number of tyrosine hydroxylase immunopositive (TH+, the rate-limiting enzyme in dopamine (DA) synthesis) neurons in the adult mouse midbrain. The first comprises pairing male and female mice together continuously for 1 week, which increases midbrain TH+ neurons by approximately 12% in males, but decreases midbrain TH+ neurons by approximately 12% in females. The second comprises housing mice continuously for 2 weeks in &#8216;enriched environments&#8217; (EE) containing running wheels, toys, ropes, nesting material, etc., which increases midbrain TH+ neurons by approximately 14% in males. Additionally, a protocol is described for concurrently infusing drugs directly into the midbrain during these environmental manipulations to help identify mechanisms underlying environmentally-induced brain plasticity. For example, EE-induction of more midbrain TH+ neurons is abolished by concurrent blockade of synaptic input onto midbrain neurons. Together, these data indicate that information about the environment is relayed via synaptic input to midbrain neurons to switch on or off expression of &#8216;DA&#8217; genes. Thus, appropriate environmental stimulation, or drug targeting of the underlying mechanisms, might be helpful for treating brain and behavioral disorders associated with imbalances in midbrain DA (e.g. Parkinson&#8217;s disease, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, schizophrenia, and drug addiction).

This protocol describes two different environmental manipulations and a concurrent brain infusion protocol to study environmentally-induced brain changes underlying adaptive behavior and brain repair in adult mice.

성인 마우스의 중간 뇌 도파민 뉴런의 수의 환경 변조

Long-lasting changes in the brain or &#8216;brain plasticity&#8217; underlie adaptive behavior and brain repair following disease or injury. Furthermore, ...