Seminatural environments for rodent behavioral testing: a representative design improving animal welfare and enhancing replicability

Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 17

Published: June 22, 2023

The low replicability of scientific studies has become an important issue. One possible cause is representativeness the experimental design employed. Already in 1950’s, Egon Brunswick pointed out that setups ideally should be based on a random sample stimuli from subjects’ natural environment or at least include basic features environment. Only designs satisfying this criterion, representative Brunswikian terminology, can produce results generalizable beyond procedure used and to situations outside laboratory. Such external validity crucial preclinical drug studies, for example, general. Popular rodent research non-human animals, like tail suspension test Geller-Seifter procedure, do not correspond contexts likely encountered animals’ habitat. Consequently, obtained kind procedures generalized neither other nor Furthermore, many traditional are incompatible with current notions animal welfare. An approximation social physical context provided laboratory, form seminatural In addition satisfy demands design, such environments offer far higher level welfare than typical small cages. This perspective article will briefly discuss principles generalizability results, virtues coincidence enhanced quality by design.

Language: Английский

---

Cell type-specific contributions to a persistent aggressive internal state in female Drosophila

Published: Dec. 19, 2023

Persistent internal states are important for maintaining survival-promoting behaviors, such as aggression. In female Drosophila melanogaster , we have previously shown that individually activating either aIPg or pC1d cell types can induce Here investigate further the individual roles of these cholinergic, sexually dimorphic types, and reciprocal connections between them, in generating a persistent aggressive state. We find brief 30-second optogenetic stimulation neurons was sufficient to promote an state lasting at least 10 minutes, whereas similar did not. While showed pC1e alone does not evoke aggression, behavior could be promoted through simultaneous pC1e, suggesting unexpected synergy establishing Neither nor show neuronal activity themselves, implying is maintained by other mechanisms. Moreover, inactivation significantly reduce aIPg-evoked aggression arguing depend on pC1d-aIPg recurrent connectivity. Our results suggest need alternative models explain

Language: Английский

---

Thoughtful faces: inferring internal states across species using facial features

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 29, 2024

Animal behaviour is shaped to a large degree by internal cognitive states, but it unknown whether these states are similar across species. To address this question, we developed virtual reality setup in which mice and macaques engage the same naturalistic visual foraging task. We exploited richness of wide range facial features extracted from video recordings during task, train Markov-Switching Linear Regression (MSLR). By doing so, identified, on single-trial basis, set that reliably predicted when animals were going react presented stimuli. Even though model was trained purely reaction times, could also predict task outcome, supporting behavioural relevance inferred states. The identified comparable between monkeys. Furthermore, each state corresponded characteristic pattern features, highlighting importance expressions as manifestations

Language: Английский

---

From innate to instructed: A new look at perceptual decision-making

Current Opinion in Neurobiology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 86, P. 102871 - 102871

Published: April 3, 2024

Understanding how subjects perceive sensory stimuli in their environment and use this information to guide appropriate actions is a major challenge neuroscience. To study perceptual decision-making animals, researchers tasks that either probe spontaneous responses (often described as "naturalistic") or train animals associate with experimenter-defined responses. Spontaneous decisions rely on animals' pre-existing knowledge, while trained offer greater versatility, albeit often at the cost of extensive training. Here, we review emerging approaches investigate using both behaviors, highlighting strengths limitations. Additionally, propose could be improved achieve faster learning more generalizable understanding task rules.

Language: Английский

---

Distinguishing discrete and continuous behavioral variability using warped autoregressive HMMs

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: June 13, 2022

Abstract A core goal in systems neuroscience and neuroethology is to understand how neural circuits generate naturalistic behavior. One foundational idea that complex behavior may be composed of sequences stereotyped behavioral syllables, which combine rich actions. To investigate this, a common approach use autoregressive hidden Markov models (ARHMMs) segment video into discrete syllables. While these approaches have been successful extracting syllables are interpretable, they fail account for other forms variability, such as differences speed, better described continuous nature. overcome limitations, we introduce class warped ARHMMs (WARHMM). As the case ARHMM, modeled mixture dynamics. However, dynamics under each latent state (i.e. syllable) additionally modulated by “warping variable.” We present two versions ARHMM warping variable affects syllable either linearly or nonlinearly. Using depth-camera recordings freely moving mice, demonstrate failure variability results duplicate cluster assignments. WARHMM achieves similar performance standard while using fewer Further analysis measurements mice demonstrates identifies structure relating response vigor.

Language: Английский

---

Sensory integration of danger and safety cues may explain the fear of a quiet coyote

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 290(2009)

Published: Oct. 25, 2023

Sensory integration theory predicts natural selection should favour adaptive responses of animals to multiple forms information, yet empirical tests this prediction are rare, particularly in free-living mammals. Studying indirect predator cues offers a salient opportunity inquire about multimodal risk assessment and its potentially interactive effects on prey responses. Here we exposed California ground squirrels from two study sites (that differ human domestic dog activity) acoustic and/or olfactory reveal divergent patterns signal dominance. Olfactory information most strongly predicted space use within the testing arena. That is, individuals, especially those at human-impacted site, avoided coyote urine, danger cue that may communicate proximity coyote. By contrast, subjects allocated less time risk-sensitive behaviours when cues. Specifically, although individuals were consistent their behavioural across trials, 'quiet coyotes' (urine without calls) significantly increased reactivity prey, likely because coyotes rarely vocalize hunting. More broadly, our findings highlight need consider evolution integrated fear contribute an emerging understanding how integrate trade off between safety changing world.

Language: Английский

---

Dopamine across timescales and cell types: Relevance for phenotypes in Parkinson's disease progression

Experimental Neurology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 374, P. 114693 - 114693

Published: Jan. 20, 2024

Language: Английский

---

Exploring transgenerational inheritance in epigenotypes of DAT heterozygous rats: Circadian anomalies and attentional vulnerability

Behavioural Brain Research, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 464, P. 114921 - 114921

Published: Feb. 24, 2024

Dopamine (DA) is mainly involved in locomotor activity, reward processes and maternal behaviors. Rats with KO gene for dopamine transporter (DAT) coding a truncated DAT protein are hyperdopaminergic conditions develop stereotyped behaviors hyperactivity. Our aim was to test the prior transgenerational modulation of wild allele as expressed heterozygous rats: specifically we addressed possible sequelae due genotype gender ancestors, regard behavioral differences F1, F2, F3 rats. We studied non-classical heterozygotes based on two specular lines, putative grand-maternal vs. grand-paternal imprinting. MAT females (F1; offspring male WT female) mated generate MIX (F2). Specularly, PAT female male) PIX Similarly PAT, obtained MUX (F2; HET sire dam); also observed (MYX: female, thus grandmother like PIX). their circadian activity behavior elevated-plus-maze (EPM). Locomotor hyper-activity occurs opposite MYX rats appearing undistinguishable from ones. Open-arm preference emerged MIX. Only showed significant vulnerability ADHD-like inattentive symptoms (duration rearing EPM; Viggiano et al., 2002). A risk-taking profile evident F2 phenotype while inattentiveness F1 progeny tends be transferred F3. hypothesize that DAT-related phenotypes result effective inheritance through pedigree dependent grandparents, suggesting protective role gestation future dam uterus. For major features, similar odd (F1, F3) generations appear opposed even (F2) ones; minor specific transfer may affect progenies but not DAT-KO ancestor.

Language: Английский

---

Correspondence of fentanyl brain pharmacokinetics and behavior measured via engineering opioids biosensors and computational ethology

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 16, 2024

Abstract Despite the ongoing epidemic of opioid use disorder and death by fentanyl overdose, opioids remain gold standard for analgesics. Pharmacokinetics (PK) dictates individual’s experience utility drugs; however, PK behavioral outcomes have been conventionally studied in separate groups, even preclinical models. To bridge this gap, we developed first class sensitive, selective, genetically encodable fluorescent biosensors, iOpioidSnFRs, including sensor, iFentanylSnFR. We expressed iFentanylSnFR ventral tegmental area mice recorded [fentanyl] alongside videos behaviors before after administration. a machine vision routine to quantify effects behavior on locomotor activity. found that receiving exhibited repetitive pattern paralleled time course. In experiment, navigating complex maze water showed dose-dependent impairment navigation, which animals repeated incorrect paths exclusion most unexplored duration average This approach complements classical operant conditioning experiments introduces key feature human addiction, ability carry out an ethologically relevant survival task, only now quantified rodents. Finally, demonstrate detecting spiked into biofluids generalizability engineering methods evolve selective biosensors other opioids, such as tapentadol levorphanol. These results encourage diagnostic continuous monitoring approaches personalizing regimens humans.

Language: Английский

---

SAUSI: a novel assay for measuring social anxiety and motivation

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 14, 2024

ABSTRACT Social aversion is a key feature of numerous mental health disorders such as Anxiety and Autism Spectrum Disorders. Nevertheless, the biobehavioral mechanisms underlying social remain poorly understood. Progress in understanding etiology has been hindered by lack comprehensive tools to assess model systems. Here, we created new behavioral task – Selective Access Unrestricted Interaction (SAUSI), which integrates elements motivation, hesitancy, decision-making, free interaction enable wholistic assessment mice. Using this novel assay, found that isolation-induced mice largely driven increases fear motivation. Deep learning analyses revealed unique footprint socially aversive state produced isolation, demonstrating compatibility modern computational approaches with SAUSI. was further assessed using traditional assays including 3-chamber sociability assay resident intruder were sufficient reveal fragments phenotype, changes either motivation or interaction, but failed provide aversion. Critically, these not components aversion, freezing hesitancy behaviors. Lastly, demonstrated SAUSI generalizable, it can be used induced non-social stressors, foot shock. Our findings debut for toolbox one overcomes limitations previous assays, allowing both choice well offers approach assessing rodents.

Language: Английский

---