The authors have no acknowledgements.

Declaração de Ética: Todos os procedimentos foram aprovados pelo Comitê de Ética Animal da Universidade de Sydney e conformado com Nacional de Saúde e do Conselho, de orientações Austrália Investigação Médica. Os procedimentos foram realizados em ratinhos C57 / BL6J que foram criadas na Bosch Roedor Facility da Universidade de Sydney. Todos os ratos foram alojados em um único quarto adequadamente ventilado no 21 ° C de temperatura ambiente em um ciclo claro-escuro de 12 horas, com luzes acesas em 0600 hr em gaiolas ventiladas individualmente com acesso ad libitum a comida seca e água. Fêmeas final da gravidez foram aleatoriamente designados para as condições de habitação padrão ou ambientalmente enriquecidos. 1. Habitação (níveis de enriquecimento): <ol><li> Obter 4 final da gravidez camundongos fêmeas adultas. Aleatoriamente atribuir 2 à condição padrão e colocar cada um deles em uma gaiola mouse padrão limpo (dimensões globais 391 x 199 x 160 mm) contendo um igloo vermelho mouse. Para a condição enriquecido, coloque o remaining 2 ratos em uma única gaiola de tamanho rat-clean (dimensões 462 x 403 x 404 mm). </li><li> Into the cage enriquecimento, coloque uma variedade de objetos destinados a aumentar a estimulação sensorial e motora (por exemplo, rodas de corrida, estímulos visuais, bolas de algodão perfumadas, tiras de velcro). </li><li> A cada 2 a 3 dias mover sobre estes objectos no interior da gaiola; atualizar qualquer que foram destruídas. </li><li> Após o desmame aos 21 dias pós-parto, os animais do sexo e local em habitação segregada macho-fêmea de acordo com as condições ambientais foram criados. Para a condição enriquecido garantir que existam entre 3 e 10 ratos por gaiola com 2 e 5 ratos por padrão. Começar o teste comportamental, os animais atingem a idade adulta (12-14 semanas de idade). </li></ol> 2. Construção do Puzzle Box <ol><li> Obter 6 partes de acrílico branco (ou outro material não-poroso): um 750 x 280 mm de diâmetro, dois 280 x 250 mm, dois 750 x 250 mm e um 150 x 280 mm (ver Figura 1). </li><li> Obter um pedaço de acrílico preto 280 x 250 mm, com uma abertura quadrada 40 x 40 cortado em um dos lados dessa peça (ver Figura 1). </li><li> Montar o puzzle caixa do seguinte modo: usar o pedaço de 750 mm x 280 como a parte inferior da caixa, utilizar 280 x 250 mm peças como as extremidades da caixa, e as peças de 750 x 250 mm, como as laterais da caixa. </li><li> Medir 150 milímetros na caixa a partir de uma extremidade, e colocar a peça de acrílico preto através da caixa de modo que o divide em dois compartimentos (um grande, um pequeno) com a abertura alinhada com o fundo da caixa. </li><li> Leve o mm pedaço de acrílico branco de 150 x 280 e colocá-lo no topo do menor compartimento da caixa certificando-se que abrange esta área completamente, proporcionando uma &quot;meta-box&quot; a câmara escura. Apor esta peça de acrílico para o corpo principal da caixa por meio de dobradiças, ou deixar-se livre para ser completamente removido durante o teste comportamental. </li><li> Tome 3 peças de acrílico (três 4 x 120 mm) e juntar-se para fazer um &quot;u-shaped &quot;canal. </li></ol><img alt="Figura 1" fo:content-width="5in" src="/files/ftp_upload/52225/52225fig1highres.jpg" width="500" /> Figura 1: Diagrama esquemático da tarefa Puzzle Box. The Puzzle Box é uma caixa de acrílico que consiste em uma área de campo aberto (600 x 280 mm) e uma área abrigada meta-box (150 x 280 mm), medindo 750 x 280 mm de todos. A abertura de 40 x 40 mm para dentro da partição (cinza) que separa as duas áreas permite animais para aceder à área de meta-box coberto pelo campo aberto. Esta abertura é bloqueada com obstruções, que são cada vez mais difíceis de remover como teste progride. Os animais submetidos a um protocolo de cinco dias, consistindo de quatro condições de obstrução com três ensaios para cada condição. 3. Corrida da Task Puzzle Box <ol><li> Limpe bem a caixa do enigma com 70% de álcool. Repita este passo entre cada animal testado. </li><li> Coloque um igloo limpo rato vermelho no ar meta-boxeA do Puzzle Box, e substituir a tampa na meta-box. </li><li> Se houver uma condição de obstrução que está sendo testado, coloque a obstrução dentro da porta da meta-box (ver Figura 2). </li><li> Posicione o mouse está sendo testado para a seção de campo aberto do Puzzle Box, orientada para a meta-box, e na extremidade mais afastada meta-box. </li><li> Anote o tempo necessário para que todas as quatro patas do animal para entrar na seção de meta-box do Puzzle Box. </li><li> Se um animal não entra meta-box, encerrar o julgamento uma vez que o limite de tempo definido é atingido (ver Tabela 1). </li><li> Uma vez que um julgamento terminar, retire o animal da Puzzle Box e colocá-lo em uma gaiola exploração separada até o próximo julgamento começa. Mantenha uma 60-180 sec lacuna entre ensaios para cada animal. </li><li> Para cada animal, realizar três ensaios por dia, durante cinco dias consecutivos de testes, com quatro condições de obstrução e três tentativas de cada estado. A terceira trial de uma determinada condição de obstrução deve sempre administrada num dia subsequente (ver Tabela 1). </li></ol><img alt="Tabela 1" fo:content-width="5in" src="/files/ftp_upload/52225/52225table1.jpg" width="500" /> Tabela 1: Esquema da tarefa Puzzle Box. A tarefa Puzzle Box é executado por cinco dias, e consiste em quatro condições de obstrução. Existem três ensaios em cada um dos primeiros quatro dias, e um no quinto dia. Cada condição obstrução tem três ensaios; os dois primeiros em um dia, e o terceiro no dia imediatamente seguinte. O primeiro ensaio de uma condição de obstrução visa testar a capacidade de resolução de problemas nativa, a segunda tentativa examina aquisição tarefa e reforço, e o terceiro ensaio é utilizado como um ensaio para a retenção de solução e recall. <img alt="Figura 2" fo:content-width="6in" src="/files/ftp_upload/52225/52225fig2highres.jpg" width="600" /> Figura 2: Dificultarcondições de íons dentro da tarefa Puzzle Box. Diagramas esquemáticos da arena Puzzle Box e as condições de obstrução usadas neste estudo. (A) Condição 0 (C0), sem obstrução presente na porta entre o campo aberto e meta-box. (B) Condição 1 (C1 ), com um &quot;u em forma de&quot; canal presente dentro da porta entre o campo aberto e meta-box. (C) Condição 2 (C2), onde o canal é cheio com material de cama limpa. (D) Condição 3 (C3 ), com um &quot;plug tecido&quot; presente na porta entre o campo aberto e meta-box. (E) Condição 4 (C4) com um &quot;plug espuma&quot; presente na porta entre o campo aberto e meta-box áreas. Dimensões da arena são como por listados em Métodos e Figura 1. 4. Interpretação de Dados <ol><li> Representar dados como a hora tomadas para completar o julgamento (incluindo ensaios nulos onde os animais não completaram a tarefa dentro do prazo especificado) ou como o número de ensaios nulos. </li><li> Use a medidas repetidas ANOVA para avaliar o efeito da condição de habitação sobre o desempenho dentro do Puzzle Box, com o tipo de obstrução / condição (C) e número de tarefas (T) intra-sujeitos fatores e nível de enriquecimento (standard contra enriquecido) como entre sujeitos de fator . </li></ol>

The authors declare they have no competing financial interests.

Os dados apresentados demonstram que o quebra-Box pode ser utilizado eficazmente para avaliar o impacto de EE. Ratos criados em ambientes enriquecidos consistentemente levou muito menos tempo para resolver enigmas obstrução dentro deste ensaio comportamental do que os animais criados dentro de condições padrão de laboratório. Além disso, esta diferença foi mais proeminente no primeiro julgamento por três das quatro condições testadas, sugerindo EE tem uma maior influência sobre nativa habilidade de resolver ...

O enriquecimento ambiental (EE) pode ser definida como um ambiente que fornecem animais com maior oportunidade para a interação social, a atividade motora e maior estimulação sensorial do que geralmente experimentado em um environment.EE padrão de laboratório foi mostrado para afetar de forma consistente o comportamento dos animais, provocando mudanças, como a redução de estresse e atividade relacionada com ansiedade 10/08, o desempenho melhorou em tarefas de aprendizagem e memória 8,11, início precoce da coordenação motora e atividade exploratória 11, mudanças na assistência materno 8, bem como resistência a substâncias que causam dependência 12- 15. Além disso, o EE tem sido revelado para melhorar os efeitos de doenças neurodegenerativas, retardar o aparecimento e diminuindo a gravidade dos sintomas em modelos animais de doença de Huntington 1-4,16, 17 Parkinson e doença de Alzheimer 18. Essas mudanças CRrelacionam com as alterações anatómicas e moleculares EE é conhecido por induzir a todo o cérebro. Animais criados em ambientes enriquecidos de estágios iniciais de desenvolvimento mostram uma miríade de mudanças neurais, incluindo o aumento de peso do cérebro e da espessura cortical, dendrítica ramificação 9,2-22 e densidade sináptica 23. EE pode alterar tanto o nível e momento de expressão do factor de crescimento 9,24-30, o que foi mostrado para contribuir para o desenvolvimento acelerado de sensorial 25,26,28,29, 30 de acelerador, bem como circuitos de motores 31,32. Trabalhos anteriores revelaram a conclusões vezes contraditórios quando se investiga o impacto da EE, sem levar em conta os diferentes tipos de animais e ambientes utilizados dentro estudos individuais 9,24,27,30. Actualmente, não existe qualquer prova comportamental, consistente e simples que pode ser usado para medir a eficácia de vários paradigmas de EE em diferentes estirpes e especificaçãoies de animais. A tarefa Puzzle Box foi concebido como um teste simples para determinar problema nativo de um animal habilidade de resolver 7. Animais colocados na área aberta são obrigados a remover obstruindo materiais situados dentro de uma pequena abertura para acessar uma região / abrigo coberto. Cada sujeito recebe três ensaios com a mesma obstrução a fim de avaliar a três atributos cognitivos diferentes. O primeiro ensaio produzir uma indicação da linha de base de capacidade de resolução de problemas inerentes ou nativa. O segundo ensaio, executado no mesmo dia, dá alguma indicação da capacidade do animal para melhorar e, assim, reforçar as estratégias para a remoção da obstrução específica. O terceiro julgamento, realizado no dia seguinte, fornece insights sobre a capacidade do sujeito para reter e recordar a solução aprenderam a tarefa. A motivação para a resolução destes puzzles &quot;obstrução&quot; pelos animais pode ser variada, potencialmenteevocando um desejo inato de evitar campos abertos e procurar abrigo, bem como uma tendência inerente para explorar os arredores 6,7. A multidão de potenciais motoristas comportamentais subjacentes ao desejo de resolver o Puzzle Box sugere que várias áreas do cérebro estão envolvidas na mediação de desempenho da tarefa. Trabalhos anteriores mostraram que, em modelos murinos de esquizofrenia, o córtex pré-frontal, bem como o hipocampo estão envolvidos na aquisição desta tarefa 5. Um estudo de lesão em ratos revelou também um grande número de regiões do cérebro envolvidas no desempenho Puzzle Box, incluindo vários núcleos talâmicos, o hipotálamo, o cerebelo e estruturas límbicas. Juntos, estes resultados indicam que o envolvimento neste resolução de problemas tarefa envolve uma série de estruturas neurais associadas com a função cognitiva. O puzzle caixa tem sido utilizado com sucesso para avaliar a capacidade de resolução de problemas de ratinhos, assim como os défices cognitivos exibido por mmodelos de urina de esquizofrenia 5-7. O desempenho da tarefa foi mostrado ser altamente consistente, e correlacionam-se bem com os resultados de outros testes comportamentais, cognitivas 6. O objetivo deste trabalho foi, portanto, de se adaptar a tarefa Puzzle Box para tornar-se um meio simples e confiável para se determinar a eficácia da EE.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Black Acrylic Board</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>750 x 280 mm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>White Acrylic Board</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>280 x 250 mm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>White Acrylic Board</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>280 x 250 mm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>White Acrylic Board</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>750 x 250 mm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>White Acrylic Board</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>750 x 250 mm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>White Acrylic Board</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>150 x 280 mm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>White Acrylic Board</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>280 x 250 mm with a 40 x 40 mm &#34;door&#34; cut into one side</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Underpass</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>3 pieces of 40 x 120 mm plexiglass or acrylic</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Note: If unable to access acrylic board, plexiglass or similar non-porous material will suffice.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Webcam</td>
			<td>Logitech</td>
			<td>C210</td>
			<td>Fix to roof with electrical tape. Alternatively, use a tripod.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>VirtualDub v1.10.4</td>
			<td>VirtualDub</td>
			<td>N/A&#160;</td>
			<td>Software for recording behaviour videos. Input from webcam.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TopScan v 3.0</td>
			<td>CleverSys Inc.</td>
			<td>N/A&#160;</td>
			<td>Software for automated top-view tracking and analysis of mouse behaviour. Captured videos are analysed post-hoc.</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

the use of the puzzle box as a means of assessing the efficacy of environmental enrichment

Environmental enrichment can dramatically influence the development and function of neural circuits. Further, enrichment has been shown to successfully delay the onset of symptoms in models of Huntington&#8217;s disease 1-4, suggesting environmental factors can evoke a neuroprotective effect against the progressive, cellular level damage observed in neurodegenerative disorders. The ways in which an animal can be environmentally enriched, however, can vary considerably. Further, there is no straightforward manner in which the effects of environmental enrichment can be assessed: most methods require either fairly complicated behavioral paradigms and/or postmortem anatomical/physiological analyses. This protocol describes the use of a simple and inexpensive behavioral assay, the Puzzle Box 5-7 as a robust means of determining the efficacy of increased social, sensory and motor stimulation on mice compared to cohorts raised in standard laboratory conditions. This simple problem solving task takes advantage of a rodent&#8217;s innate desire to avoid open enclosures by seeking shelter. Cognitive ability is assessed by adding increasingly complex impediments to the shelter&#8217;s entrance. The time a given subject takes to successfully remove the obstructions and enter the shelter serves as the primary metric for task performance. This method could provide a reliable means of rapidly assessing the efficacy of different enrichment protocols on cognitive function, thus paving the way for systematically determining the role specific environmental factors play in delaying the onset of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disease.

Os resultados descritos aqui são uma amostra representativa, com os dados obtidos de várias coortes com várias ninhadas. Todos os testes comportamentais foi realizada entre 0700 e 1100 horas, com a ordem de teste randomizado de animais dentro de uma coorte. Animais criados em um ambiente enriquecido (n = 14, 7 do sexo feminino e 7 do sexo masculino) levou muito menos tempo para resolver as tarefas de obstrução dentro da caixa do enigma do que aqueles criados em um ambiente padrão (n = 15, 7 do sexo feminino e 8 do...

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.

O uso do Puzzle Box como uma forma de avaliar a eficácia de Enriquecimento Ambiental

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 visualizações.  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.

Vídeo: 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.

A Task Congruência Crossmodal como um meio para se obter uma medida comportamental Objetivo no Rubber Mão 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 ...

Comportamento

Assessing Forelimb Function after Unilateral Cervical SCI using Novel Tasks: Limb Step-alternation, Postural Instability and Pasta Handling

Cervical spinal cord injury (cSCI) can cause devastating neurological deficits, including impairment or loss of upper limb and hand function. A majority of the spinal cord injuries in humans occur at the cervical levels. Therefore, developing cervical injury models and developing relevant and sensitive behavioral tests is of great importance. Here we describe the use of a newly developed forelimb step-alternation test after cervical spinal cord injury in rats. In addition, we describe two behavioral tests that have not been used after spinal cord injury: a postural instability test (PIT), and a pasta-handling test. All three behavioral tests are highly sensitive to injury and are easy to use. Therefore, we feel that these behavioral tests can be instrumental in investigating therapeutic strategies after cSCI.

Three new behavioral tests (forelimb step-alternation, postural instability test, pasta handling test) for evaluating forelimb function after cervical spinal cord injury in rodents are described.

Avaliação da Função Membro Anterior após Unilateral Cervical SCI usando tarefas Novel: Membro Passo alternância, instabilidade postural e Pasta Manipulação

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.

O Teste de Natação Forçada como um modelo de Depressive-like Comportamento

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.

Avaliando as múltiplas dimensões do noivado a Caracterizar Aprendizagem: uma perspectiva neurofisiológica

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.

Erros como um meio de reduzir Impulsivo Food escolha

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.

Um método para testar o efeito de sugestões ambientais no comportamento de acoplamento em<em&gt; Drosophila melanogaster</em

An individual's sexual drive is influenced by genotype, experience and environmental conditions. How these factors interact to modulate sexual behaviors ...

The Knob Supination Task: A Semi-automated Method for Assessing Forelimb Function in Rats

Tasks that accurately measure dexterity in animal models are critical to understand hand function. Current rat behavioral tasks that measure dexterity largely use video analysis of reaching or food manipulation. While these tasks are easy to implement and are robust across disease models, they are subjective and laborious for the experimenter. Automating traditional tasks or creating new automated tasks can make the tasks more efficient, objective, and quantitative. Since rats are less dexterous than primates, central nervous system (CNS) injury produces more subtle deficits in dexterity, however, supination is highly affected in rodents and crucial to hand function in primates. Therefore, we designed a semi-automated task that measures forelimb supination in rats. Rats are trained to reach and grasp a knob-shaped manipulandum and turn the manipulandum in supination to receive a reward. Rats can acquire the skill within 20 &plusmn; 5 days. While the early part of training is highly supervised, much of the training is done without direct supervision. The task reliably and reproducibly captures subtle deficits after injury and shows functional recovery that accurately reflects clinical recovery curves. Analysis of data is performed by specialized software through a graphical user interface that is designed to be intuitive. We also give solutions to common problems encountered during training, and show that minor corrections to behavior early in training produce reliable acquisition of supination. Thus, the knob supination task provides efficient and quantitative evaluation of a critical movement for dexterity in rats.

This manuscript describes a semi-automated task that quantifies supination in rats. Rats reach, grasp, and supinate a spherical manipulandum. The rat is rewarded with a pellet if the turn angle exceeds a criterion set by the user. This task increases throughput, sensitivity to injury, and objectivity compared to traditional tasks.

A tarefa de supinação de botão: Um método semi-automático para avaliar a função do Forelimb em ratos

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.

Métodos de emparelhamento e manutenção do par de Nova Zelândia branco coelhos (Oryctolagus Cuniculus) Via etograma comportamental, monitoramento e intervenções

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.

Avaliando a coerência das narrativas curtas dos pais em relação ao seu filho usando o procedimento de amostra de fala de cinco minutos

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.

Fornecendo o enriquecimento ambiental significativo e medindo o cortisol do saliva nos porcos alojados no revestimento slatted

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 ...