Name: utilizing the modified t-maze to assess functional memory outcomes after cardiac arrest
Uploaded: 2018-01-05T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Utilizing the Modified T-Maze to Assess Functional Memory Outcomes After Cardiac Arrest at JoVE.com

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke grant 1R01NS096225-01A1, the American Heart Association grants AHA-13SDG1395001413, AHA-17GRNT33660336, AHA-17POST33660174, the Louisiana State University Grant in Aid research council, The Malcolm Feist Cardiovascular Research Fellowship, and the Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute.

All experimental procedures were conducted in accordance with the guidelines of the National Institutes of Health and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (LSU Health Sciences Center-Shreveport) for the usage of male Sprague Dawley rats (300-350 g, 9-10 weeks old). Rats were fasted overnight before the ACA surgery.
1. T-maze apparatus design and setting
NOTE: Base the T-maze design on the Deacon and Rawlins&#39; 2006 model31</s...

<ol>
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Modifications were made in the present study as compared to Deacon and Rawlins&#39; protocol31. The 3D printer was used to build the T-maze. The 3D-printing provides affordable and cost-effective alternatives to commercialized T-maze. To reduce rats&#39; anxiety during the test, the T-maze was performed in the dark room with minimum illumination. Once the rat entered one of the goal arms, we gently blocked the opposing arm. This avoids possible stress from the test, as well as possible damage to r...

According to the American Heart Association (2017), cardiac arrest (CA)-induced mortality occurs every four minutes, and affects over 400,000 people per year in the United States1. It is well-documented that CA can cause neuronal brain injury as a result of insufficient blood perfusion2,3,4. CA-induced brain injury occurs in the ischemia-sensitive CA1 region of the hippocampus5,6,7, affecting neurons that are critical to learning and memory8,9,10,11,12. Moreover, the loss of dendritic spine density, under ischemic conditions in the hippocampus (i.e. CA1 neurons), plays a critical role in spatial memory impairment13,14,15. Due to these pathological changes after CA, behavioral disorders such as: anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and memory loss are more prevalent. Although there have been advances in medical technology (i.e. efficient ambulatory service) that correlate with improved CA survival rates, most of the neuroprotective treatments (except for hypothermia) fail to improve functional outcomes after CA16,17. CA survivors typically have a poor quality of life, and are burdened with incremental medical spending16.
Cognitive status assessments for cerebral ischemia via behavioral tests are important to determine both drug efficacy and ultimately develop a successful clinical trial. In the 1940s, Edward Tolman designed the first behavior trial to study hippocampus-based spatial memory18. Subsequently, different mazes (i.e. Morris water maze, radial maze, T- or Y-maze, and Barnes maze) were developed to evaluate hippocampal-based spatial learning and memory in rats19,20,21,22,23. One of the more widely used behavioral test is the Morris water maze, which examines spatial learning and memory in rat models24. However, the Morris water maze requires the rat to swim and exert full motor function and control. For ischemia experiments such as the asphyxial cardiac arrest (ACA, a rat model of CA) model, cannulation of the femoral artery/vein are required to obtain vital blood pressure, blood gases and introduction of various drugs. Since femoral artery/vein cannulation can inhibit leg mobility rendering the rat&#39;s ability to swim properly, the Morris water maze may not be the most appropriate to test cognitive impairments under ACA.
The Barnes maze is the other widely used behavioral test to examine spatial learning and memory in rodent models. The Barnes maze does not require the exertion of full motor function and control, and thus less stressful than the Morris water maze. In the past, we performed experiments using the Barnes maze to determine if functional learning/memory differences occur between control or sham versus ACA-induced rats. The data obtained for the Barnes maze did not have the resolution to test cognitive impairments following mild to moderate ACA due to the fact that the Barnes maze is widely used to measure reference (long term) memory25,26, while ACA-induced neurocognitive deficits more closely related to working (short-term) memory27,28,29,30 suggesting that the Barnes maze is less viable for assessing memory function in our ACA model.
We thus developed a modified T-maze using spontaneous alternation test to evaluate working (short-term) memory after ACA. The modified T-maze spontaneous alternation test&#39;s major advantage is its simplicity and minimal stress on the rats as compared to other behavioral tests due to the fact that the modified T-maze does not require prior animal training, as well as heavy computational analysis or sub-routines (i.e. video imaging of the rat) as required by the Morris water maze and Barnes maze. Here we show that the modified T-maze spontaneous alternation test is a simple and yet highly efficient behavioral trial paradigm that can offer enough resolution to accurately detect and evaluate hippocampal function in diseases that cause short-term memory loss (i.e. ACA).

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>3D Printer</td>
			<td>MakerBot</td>
			<td>Replicator</td>
			<td>Fifth generation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>3D Printer Filament</td>
			<td>Hatchbox</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>PLA, 1.75 mm filament diameter</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>200 Proof Pure Ethanol</td>
			<td>Koptec</td>
			<td>V1005SG</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sani-Chips</td>
			<td>PJ Murphy-Forest Products</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Size: 8 to 20 mesh; 2.2 cubic foot/package; autoclavable bags</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rat</td>
			<td>Charles River Laboratories</td>
			<td>Sprague-Dawley</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vecuronium bromide</td>
			<td>Sun Pharmaceutical</td>
			<td>47335-931-40</td>
			<td>10 mg</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Epinephrine</td>
			<td>Par Pharmaceutical</td>
			<td>42023-103-01</td>
			<td>Adrenalin Chloride Solution 1 mg/mL, 1:1000</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Buprenorphine Hydrochloride Injection</td>
			<td>Pfizer</td>
			<td>00409-2012-32</td>
			<td>0.3mg/mL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SketchUp</td>
			<td>Trimble Inc.</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>3D modeling software</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>VentElite Small Animal Ventilator</td>
			<td>Harvard Apparatus</td>
			<td>55-7040</td>
			<td>Animals raging in size from mouse to guinea pig (10g to 1kg)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PowerLab 8/35</td>
			<td>Adinstruments</td>
			<td>PL3508</td>
			<td>8 analog input channels &#8211; 4 of which can be used in differential mode.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bio Amps</td>
			<td>Adinstruments</td>
			<td>FE132</td>
			<td>The Bio Amp is a galvanically isolated, high-performance differential bio amplifier optimized for the measurement of a wide variety of biological signals such as ECG, EMG and EEG recordings.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Quad Bridge Amp</td>
			<td>Adinstruments</td>
			<td>FE224</td>
			<td>A four-channel, non-isolated bridge amplifier designed to allow the PowerLab to connect to most DC bridge transducers.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>LabChart 8</td>
			<td>Adinstruments</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ABL80 FLEX CO-OX blood gas analyzer</td>
			<td>Radiometer</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>pH / p CO2 / p O2</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SURFLO Teflon I.V. Catheter</td>
			<td>Terumo</td>
			<td>sc-361556</td>
			<td>Only use the flexible thin wall catheter (49-mm long)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pipet/Infusion Needle</td>
			<td>Hamilton</td>
			<td>7748-03</td>
			<td>17-gauge; 93-mm long; 10-degree angle</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Classic T3 Vaporizer</td>
			<td>SurgiVet</td>
			<td>VCT302</td>
			<td>Classic T3 Isoflurane Funnel Fill</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ENVIRO-PURE Charcoal Canister</td>
			<td>SurgiVet</td>
			<td>32373B10</td>
			<td>Designed to absorb waste anesthetic gas</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>O2 single flowmeter</td>
			<td>SurgiVet</td>
			<td>32375B1</td>
			<td>0-1000 mL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>N2O Flowmeter</td>
			<td>VetEquip</td>
			<td>401721</td>
			<td>0-4LPM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Clay Adams Intramedic Luer-Stub Adapter (Sterile)</td>
			<td>Becton Dickinson</td>
			<td>427565</td>
			<td>23 gauge</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Micro Forceps</td>
			<td>Black and Black surgical</td>
			<td>B3FRC-18 RM-8</td>
			<td>7 1/4&#34; (18 cm), 8mm RH, counterweight w/ guide pin 2mm, platform 6 x .3 mm, curved.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Halstead Mosquito Forceps</td>
			<td>Roboz</td>
			<td>RS-7111</td>
			<td>Curved; 5&#34; Length, 1.3 mm tip diameter, 2.1 mm jaw width</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mixter Forceps</td>
			<td>Roboz</td>
			<td>RS-7291</td>
			<td>5.25&#34; Curved Extra Delicate, 1.1 mm tips</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Castroviejo Micro Dissecting Spring Scissors</td>
			<td>Roboz</td>
			<td>RS-5650</td>
			<td>Straight, Sharp Points; 9 mm Cutting Edge; 0.15 mm Tip Width; 3 1/2&#34; Overall Length</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mayo-Stille Scissors</td>
			<td>Roboz</td>
			<td>RS-6891</td>
			<td>5.5&#34; Round Curved</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dumont #5 Forceps</td>
			<td>Roboz</td>
			<td>RS-5058</td>
			<td>45 Deg Dumoxel Tip Size .10 x .06 mm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Olsen-Hegar Combination Scissor And Needle Holder</td>
			<td>Roboz</td>
			<td>RS-7884</td>
			<td>Cross Serration Tip; 5.5&#34; Length</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Moloney Forceps</td>
			<td>Roboz</td>
			<td>RS-8254</td>
			<td>Serrated; Slight Curve; 4.5&#34; Length</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

utilizing the modified t-maze to assess functional memory outcomes after cardiac arrest

Background: Evaluating mild to moderate cognitive impairment in a global cerebral ischemia (i.e. cardiac arrest) model can be difficult due to poor locomotion after surgery. For example, rats who undergo surgical procedures and are subjected to the Morris water maze may not be able to swim, thus voiding the experiment.
New Method: We established a modified behavioral spontaneous alternation T-maze test. The major advantage of the modified T-maze protocol is its relatively simple design that is powerful enough to assess functional learning/memory after ischemia. Additionally, the data analysis is simple and straightforward. We used the T-maze to determine the rats&#39; learning/memory deficits both in the presence or absence of mild to moderate (6 min) asphyxial cardiac arrest (ACA). Rats have a natural tendency for exploration and will explore the alternate arms in the T-maze, whereas hippocampal-lesioned rats tend to adopt a side-preference resulting in decreased spontaneous alternation ratios, revealing the hippocampal-related functional learning/memory in the presence or absence of ACA.
Results: ACA groups have higher side-preference ratios and lower alternations as compared to control.
Comparison with Existing Method(s): The Morris water and Barnes maze are more prominent for assessing learning/memory function. However, the Morris water maze is more stressful than other mazes. The Barnes maze is widely used to measure reference (long-term) memory, while ACA-induced neurocognitive deficits are more closely related to working (short-term) memory.
Conclusions: We have developed a simple, yet effective strategy to delineate working (short-term) memory via the T-maze in our global cerebral ischemia model (ACA).

ACA (global cerebral ischemia) mainly causes working (short-term) memory deficits28,29. To assess the function of learning and memory after ACA, we used the modified spontaneous alternation test to evaluate working (short-term) memory30. Results from spontaneous alternation test suggest that the alternation rate from three consecutive days in the ACA group (26.19 &#177; 4.96%) was significantly lower as com...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Utilizing the Modified T-Maze to Assess Functional Memory Outcomes After Cardiac Arrest at JoVE.com

Utilizing the Modified T-Maze to Assess Functional Memory Outcomes After Cardiac Arrest

This protocol describes the use of a modified T-maze to evaluate functional learning/memory in asphyxia cardiac arrest-induced cerebral ischemia.

Background: Evaluating mild to moderate cognitive impairment in a global cerebral ischemia (i.e. cardiac arrest) model can be difficult due to poor ...

The overall goal of this modified T-maze is to evaluate functional learning and memory after cardiac arrest induced cerebral ischemia. These modified team mates can help answer hippocampus function in disease that cause short-term memory deficits, such as cardiac arrest. The major advantage of the modified T-maze is it's relatively simple design.That is powerful enough to measure functional learning memory after ischemia. Additionally the data analysis is simple and straight forward. Since asphyxial cardiac arrest mainly results in short-term memory deficits, the modified T-maze can also be applied to other central nervous system diseases, that cause short-term memory deficits.Such as Alzheimers disease, Parkinson disease and transient ischemic attack. After femoral and arterial and venous catheterization, adjust physiological parameters as needed by modulating stroke volume, oxygen, or nitrous oxide levels. Then use a one milliliter syringe connected with a 23 gauge lure stub adaptor, to administer vecuronium bromide via femoral vein and wait for two minutes.Ensure that the blood pressure is at or around 100 millimeters of mercury. Induce apnea for six minutes by disconnecting the endotracheal tube from the ventilator. Further block the endotracheal tube by a one milliliter syringe to ensure complete apnea.During the last minute of apnea, adjust the respiratory rate of the ventilator to 80 breaths per minute and increase oxygen to two liters per minute with zero percent nitrous oxide to blow out any remaining isoflurane or nitrous oxide remaining in the ventilator. After the six minutes of apnea, remove the one milliliter syringe from the endotracheal tube. Reconnect the endotracheal tube to the ventilator.Next, use a one milliliter syringe connected with a 23 gauge lure stub adaptor to administer epinephrine via femoral vein. Administer manual chest compressions by the thumb, index and middle finger on the animals chest, in a light circular motion on the X and Z axis, until the return of spontaneous circulation. Then use another one milliliter syringe connected with a 23 gauge lure stub adapter to administer sodium bicarbonate via femoral vein, immediately after return to spontaneous circulation, to alleviate respiratory acidosis.10 minutes after resuscitation, measure blood gases again to determine the acid base status. Use a hemostat to clamp the femoral artery and vein. Slowly and gently remove arterial and venous catheters using blunt tip forceps.Then legate femoral artery and vein with a 5 O silk suture to prevent bleeding. Close the skin overlying the surgical site with a 3 O silk suture using the interrupted suturing technique, to minimize the chance of wound reopening. After the rat starts breathing on its own, 30 to 60 minutes after resuscitation, disconnect from the ventilator and gently remove the endotracheal tube.Place the rat in the baby incubator overnight. Finally transfer the rat to the individual cage and return the rat to the animal facility with regular chow and water. On the day before surgery, handle each rat for five minutes and never elevate the rat from the cage when handling.Then gently pick it up by it's tail with one hand, while the other hand supports it's legs, and let it jump from the hand to the cage five times. Separate each rat into individual cages so they will not dominate for food and or fight. Then three days after sham or ACA surgery, transfer the rat with the cage into a quiet and dark room before the start of the first run.Only turn on a low power desk lamp, and place it in the corner of the testing room to maintain minimum illumination. Allow the rat to adapt to darkness for 10 minutes. Next spread a thin layer of bedding to cover the entire floor of the maze and place the rat at the start arm.Allow each rat three minutes to explore the right or left goal arm. After the rat commits to one of the goal arms, when all four paws of the rat have entered the goal arm, lock the T junction between the start arm and the opposing goal arm to prevent the rat from entering the opposing goal arm. Leave the rat in the maze for 30 seconds.Then pick up the rat and place it back in it's cage for approximately 30 seconds. Then remove the T junction block from the T-maze. Place the rat at the start arm again and repeat the test to determine spontaneous alternation.Have rats perform four runs per day with a 10 minute break after the first two runs. Finally, change the bedding during the 10 minute break and between animals to eliminate scent bias. Clean the T-maze with 75%ethanol followed by distilled water at the end of each experimental day.Results from the spontaneous alternation test suggest that the alternation rate from three consecutive days in the ACA group was significantly lower compared to the control group. This is due to the fact that rats subjected to ACA developed an increase in side preference compared to controls. After watching this video, you should have a good understanding of how to utilize this modified T-maze to evaluate short-term memory deficit after cerebral ischemia in a rodent.While attempting this modified T-maze, it is important to gently block the opposite arm after the rat enters one of the goal arms. Additionally, T-maze should be performed in dark room with minimal illumination, which reduces rat anxiety.

utilizing-modified-t-maze-to-assess-functional-memory-outcomes-after

Research

JoVE Journal

Behavior

Use of an Eight-arm Radial Water Maze to Assess Working and Reference Memory Following Neonatal Brain Injury

Working and reference memory are commonly assessed using the land based radial arm maze.&#160;However, this paradigm requires pretraining, food deprivation, and may introduce scent cue confounds. The eight-arm radial water maze is designed to evaluate reference and working memory performance simultaneously by requiring subjects to use extra-maze cues to locate escape platforms and remedies the limitations observed in land based radial arm maze designs. Specifically, subjects are required to avoid the arms previously used for escape during each testing day (working memory) as well as avoid the fixed arms, which never contain escape platforms (reference memory). Re-entries into arms that have already been used for escape during a testing session (and thus the escape platform has been removed) and re-entries into reference memory arms are indicative of working memory deficits. Alternatively, first entries into reference memory arms are indicative of reference memory deficits. We used this maze to compare performance of rats with neonatal brain injury and sham controls following induction of hypoxia-ischemia and show significant deficits in both working and reference memory after eleven days of testing. This protocol could be easily modified to examine many other models of learning impairment.

The eight-arm radial water maze is designed to evaluate reference and working memory performance simultaneously by requiring subjects to use extra-maze cues to locate escape platforms and remedies the limitations observed in land based radial arm maze designs.

Working and reference memory are commonly assessed using the land based radial arm maze.&#160;However, this paradigm requires pretraining, food ...

Assessing Working Memory in Children: The Comprehensive Assessment Battery for Children &#8211; Working Memory (CABC-WM)

The Comprehensive Assessment Battery for Children - Working Memory (CABC-WM) is a computer-based battery designed to assess different components of working memory in young school-age children. Working memory deficits have been identified in children with language-based learning disabilities, including dyslexia1,2 and language impairment3,4, but it is not clear whether these children exhibit deficits in subcomponents of working memory, such as visuospatial or phonological working memory. The CABC-WM is administered on a desktop computer with a touchscreen interface and was specifically developed to be engaging and motivating for children. Although the long-term goal of the CABC-WM is to provide individualized working memory profiles in children, the present study focuses on the initial success and utility of the CABC-WM for measuring central executive, visuospatial, phonological loop, and binding constructs in children with typical development. Immediate next steps are to administer the CABC-WM to children with specific language impairment, dyslexia, and comorbid specific language impairment and dyslexia.

Assessing Working Memory in Children: The Comprehensive Assessment Battery for Children &amp;#8211; Working Memory (CABC-WM)

Working memory predicts a significant amount of variance for a variety of cognitive tasks, including speaking, reading, and writing. However, few tools are available to assess working memory in children. We present an innovative, computer-based battery that comprehensively assesses different components of working memory in school-age children.

The Comprehensive Assessment Battery for Children - Working Memory (CABC-WM) is a computer-based battery designed to assess different components of ...

Using Wavelet Entropy to Demonstrate how Mindfulness Practice Increases Coordination between Irregular Cerebral and Cardiac Activities

In both the East and West, traditional teachings say that the mind and heart are somehow closely correlated, especially during spiritual practice. One difficulty in proving this objectively is that the natures of brain and heart activities are quite different. In this paper, we propose a methodology that uses wavelet entropy to measure the chaotic levels of both electroencephalogram (EEG) and electrocardiogram (ECG) data and show how this may be used to explore the potential coordination between the mind and heart under different experimental conditions. Furthermore, Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) was used to identify the brain regions in which the EEG wavelet entropy was the most affected by the experimental conditions. As an illustration, the EEG and ECG were recorded under two different conditions (normal rest and mindful breathing) at the beginning of an 8-week standard Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training course (pretest) and after the course (posttest). Using the proposed method, the results consistently showed that the wavelet entropy of the brain EEG decreased during the MBSR mindful breathing state as compared to that during the closed-eye resting state. Similarly, a lower wavelet entropy of heartrate was found during MBSR mindful breathing. However, no difference in wavelet entropy during MBSR mindful breathing was found between the pretest and posttest. No correlation was observed between the entropy of brain waves and the entropy of heartrate during normal rest in all participants, whereas a significant correlation was observed during MBSR mindful breathing. Additionally, the most well-correlated brain regions were located in the central areas of the brain. This study provides a methodology for the establishment of evidence that mindfulness practice (i.e., mindful breathing) may increase the coordination between mind and heart activities.

This manuscript describes how to use the wavelet entropy index to analyze high-density electroencephalography (EEG) and electrocardiography (ECG) data. We show that the irregularity of cerebral and cardiac activities became more coordinated during mindfulness-based stress reduction practice.

In both the East and West, traditional teachings say that the mind and heart are somehow closely correlated, especially during spiritual practice. One ...

A Community-based Stress Management Program: Using Wearable Devices to Assess Whole Body Physiological Responses in Non-laboratory Settings

A pragmatic breath-based intervention to benefit human performance and stress management is timely and valuable to individuals seeking holistic approaches for emotional regulation and optimizing compensatory reserve mechanisms. This protocol is designed to not only teach mind-body awareness but also to provide feedback utilizing physiological data and survey results. The primary findings of this study showed that heart coherence and alpha variables were significantly correlated after four weeks of the breath-based meditation stress protocol. Meditation and rhythmic breathing produced significant increases in alpha brain activity. These brain physiological responses conformed to the Pleth Variability Index (PVI) changes, suggesting the ability of the human body to enter into a meditative state and effectively manage stress. When assessed after four weeks of daily practicing the techniques employed in the stress management protocol, based on the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, subjects improved in applying mindfulness skills. The overall mindfulness score, Pleth variability index (PVI), and perfusion index (PI) increased after the 4-week intervention period. Results from electroencephalography (brain waves) were consistent with a meditative state during the post-study follow-up session. This provides evidence that wearable devices are feasible for data collection during a breath-based stress management intervention. This protocol can be easily and efficiently implemented into any study design in which physiological data are desired in a non-laboratory-based setting.

Stress is an unavoidable and persistent component of life and holistic approaches for its management are being considered. A standardized methodology was created to demonstrate the feasibility of a breath-based stress management protocol that can be used with commercially available portable technology.

A pragmatic breath-based intervention to benefit human performance and stress management is timely and valuable to individuals seeking holistic approaches ...

Reversible Cooling-induced Deactivations to Study Cortical Contributions to Obstacle Memory in the Walking Cat

On complex, naturalistic terrain, sensory information about an environmental obstacle can be used to rapidly adjust locomotor movements for avoidance. For example, in the cat, visual information about an impending obstacle can modulate stepping for avoidance. Locomotor adaptation can also occur independent of vision, as sudden tactile inputs to the leg by an expected obstacle can modify the stepping of all four legs for avoidance. Such complex locomotor coordination involves supraspinal structures, such as the parietal cortex. This protocol describes the use of reversible, cooling-induced cortical deactivation to assess parietal cortex contributions to memory-guided obstacle locomotion in the cat. Small cooling loops, known as cryoloops, are specially shaped to deactivate discrete regions of interest to assess their contributions to an overt behavior. Such methods have been used to elucidate the role of parietal area 5 in memory-guided obstacle avoidance in the cat.

Complex locomotion in naturalistic environments requiring careful coordination of the limbs involves regions of the parietal cortex. The following protocol describes the use of reversible cooling-induced deactivation to demonstrate the role of parietal area 5 in memory-guided obstacle avoidance in the walking cat.

On complex, naturalistic terrain, sensory information about an environmental obstacle can be used to rapidly adjust locomotor movements for avoidance. For ...

The Modified Temptation Resistance Task: A Paradigm to Elicit Children's Strategic Lie-telling

The protocol for the temptation resistance paradigm was designed to elicit 2- to 8-year-old children's strategic lie-telling behaviors. The reward of transgression was intended to be too tempting to resist, so that children's spontaneous lie-telling behavior in the presence of irreversible evidence due to the transgression could be observed. Conducted in a developmental psychology laboratory behind a one-way mirror and video recorded with a hidden camcorder, the protocol starts with a guessing game where the child is given three trials to guess the identities of hidden objects under an upside down cup. The experimenter gives hints in the first two trials to make sure the child "guess" them correctly. At the beginning of the final trial, the experimenter leaves the room briefly and asks the child not to peek under the cup. If the child could not resist the temptation and peeks, small particles previously filled in the cup would scatter on a grooved surface. Upon the experimenter's return, the child is asked if he/she has peeked. If he/she denies transgression contrary to the presence of the physical evidence, he/she is asked to explain why the particles are on the table. Three responses could be observed in the procedure, including the initial transgression, truth-telling or lie-telling behavior if the child peeked, and the strategic lie-telling behavior in the presence of the physical evidence.

The Modified Temptation Resistance Task: A Paradigm to Elicit Children&#039;s Strategic Lie-telling

The protocol for the temptation resistance paradigm was designed to elicit 2- to 8-year-old children&#39;s strategic lie-telling behaviors. The reward of transgression was intended to be too tempting to resist, so that children&#39;s spontaneous lie-telling behavior in the presence of irreversible evidence due to the transgression could be observed.

The protocol for the temptation resistance paradigm was designed to elicit 2- to 8-year-old children's strategic lie-telling behaviors. The reward of ...

An Automated T-maze Based Apparatus and Protocol for Analyzing Delay- and Effort-based Decision Making in  Free Moving Rodents

Many neurological and psychiatric patients demonstrate difficulties and/or deficits in decision making. Rodent models are helpful to produce a deeper understanding of the neurobiological causes underlying the decision-making problems. A cost-benefit based T-maze task is used for measuring decision making in which rodents choose between a high reward arm (HRA) and a low reward arm (LRA). There are two paradigms of the T-maze decision-making task, one in which the cost is a time delay and the other in which it is physical effort. Both paradigms require a tedious and labor-intensive management of experimental animals, multiple doors, pellet reward, and arm choice recordings. In the current work, we invented an apparatus based on traditional T-maze with full automation for pellet delivery, door management and choice recordings. This automated setup can be used for the evaluation of both delay- and effort-based decision making in rodents. With the protocol described here, our lab investigated the decision-making phenotypes of multiple genetically modified mice. In the representative data, we showed that the mice with ablated medial habenular showed aversions of both delay and effort and tended to choose the immediate and effortless reward. This protocol helps to decrease the variability caused by experimenter intervention and to enhance experiment efficiency. In addition, chronic silicon probe or microelectrode recording, fiber-optic imaging and/or manipulation of neural activity can be easily applied during the decision-making task using the setup described here.

This article introduces an automated T-maze apparatus that we invented, and a protocol based on this apparatus for analyzing delay-based decision making and effort-based decision making in free moving rodents.

Many neurological and psychiatric patients demonstrate difficulties and/or deficits in decision making. Rodent models are helpful to produce a deeper ...

Biomechanical Analysis Methods to Assess Professional Badminton Players' Lunge Performance

Under the condition of simulating a badminton court in the laboratory, this study used the injury mechanism model to analyze the maximal right lunge movements of eight professional badminton players and eight amateur players. The purpose of this protocol is to study the differences in kinematics and joint moment of the right knee and ankle. A motion capture system and force plate were used to capture data of the joint movements of the lower extremity and the vertical ground reaction force (vGRF). Sixteen young men who did not have any sports injuries in the past 6 months took part in the study. The subjects performed a maximal right lunge from the start position with their right foot, stepping on and fully contacting with the force plate, hit the shuttlecock with an underhand stroke to the designated position in the backcourt, and then returned to the start/end position. All subjects wore the same badminton shoes to avoid a difference in impact from different badminton shoes. The amateur players showed a greater range of ankle movement and reverse joint moment on the frontal plane, and a larger internal joint rotation moment on the horizontal plane. The professional badminton players exhibited greater knee moment on the sagittal and frontal planes. Therefore, these factors should be considered in the development of the training program to reduce the risk of sports injuries in knee and ankle joints. This study simulates the real badminton court and calibrates the range of activities of each movement of the subjects so that the subjects complete the experimental action in a natural state with high quality. A limitation of this study is that it does not combine joint load and muscle activity. Another limitation is that the sample size is small and should be expanded in future studies. This research method can be applied to the lower limb biomechanical research of other footwork in the badminton project.

Biomechanical Analysis Methods to Assess Professional Badminton Players&#039; Lunge Performance

Here, we present a protocol to evaluate the differences in injury mechanisms between professional and amateur players when performing a badminton maximal right lunge movement by analyzing lower limb kinematics.

Under the condition of simulating a badminton court in the laboratory, this study used the injury mechanism model to analyze the maximal right lunge ...

Modified Blood Collection from Tail Veins of Non-anesthetized Mice with a Vacuum Blood Collection System and Eyeglass Magnifier

Blood sample collection is the basis of experimental animal research. It is of importance to obtain adequate blood samples for various research purposes. The tail veins of mice are small, and it is sometimes difficult to obtain the required blood volume by conventional puncture methods. This study investigates the superiority of repeated blood sample collection from tail veins of mice through use of a vacuum blood collection system and eyeglass magnifier (experimental group) compared to conventional blood sampling methods (conventional group), performed by beginners and experts, respectively. With the help of an eyeglass magnifier, a butterfly needle tip is inserted into the tail vein of each mouse in the experimental group. When the vein is penetrated successfully, a blood sample is collected in the vacuum collection tube by insertion of the rubber end of a butterfly needle into the vacuum blood collection tube. The plunger is then used to collect blood without the help of the eyeglass magnifier in the conventional group. Success rates of blood sample collection by the beginners and experts were shown to be 70% vs. 100% (p &#60; 0.01) in the experimental group and 35% vs. 85% (p &#60; 0.01) in the conventional group. For both beginners and experts, puncture times required for obtaining required blood sample were significantly lower in the experimental group compared to the conventional group (2.40 &#177; 0.75 vs. 2.90 &#177; 0.31, p &#60; 0.05; 1.15 &#177; 0.37 vs. 1.55 &#177; 0.76, p &#60; 0.05). In conclusion, the presented blood sampling technique is feasible and easy to practice and enables frequent sampling of adequate blood volumes from non-anesthetized mice.&#160;

This study reports blood sampling from tail vein in mice using a vacuum extraction tube system with eyeglass magnifier. Our method is easy to practice and could be used for repeat blood sampling in mice.

Blood sample collection is the basis of experimental animal research. It is of importance to obtain adequate blood samples for various research purposes. ...

Assessment of Memory Function in Pilocarpine-induced Epileptic Mice

Cognitive impairment is one of the most common comorbidities in temporal lobe epilepsy. To recapitulate epilepsy-associated cognitive decline in an animal model of epilepsy, we generated pilocarpine-treated chronic epileptic mice. We present a protocol for three different behavioral tests using these epileptic mice: novel object location (NL), novel object recognition (NO), and pattern separation (PS) tests to evaluate learning and memory for places, objects, and contexts, respectively. We explain how to set the behavioral apparatus and provide experimental procedures for the NL, NO, and PS tests following an open field test that measures the animals&#8217; basal locomotor activities. We also describe the technical advantages of the NL, NO, and PS tests with respect to other behavioral tests for assessing memory function in epileptic mice. Finally, we discuss possible causes and solutions for epileptic mice failing to make 30 s of good contact with the objects during the familiarization sessions, which is a critical step for successful memory tests. Thus, this protocol provides detailed information about how to assess epilepsy-associated memory impairments using mice. The NL, NO, and PS tests are simple, efficient assays that are appropriate for the evaluation of different kinds of memory in epileptic mice.

This article presents experimental procedures for assessing memory impairments in pilocarpine-induced epileptic mice. This protocol can be used to study the pathophysiologic mechanisms of epilepsy-associated cognitive decline, which is one of the most common comorbidities in epilepsy.

Cognitive impairment is one of the most common comorbidities in temporal lobe epilepsy. To recapitulate epilepsy-associated cognitive decline in an animal ...