A circadian behavioral analysis suite for real-time classification of daily rhythms in complex behaviors

Cell Reports Methods, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 5(5), P. 101050 - 101050

Published: May 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Investigation of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Home Cage Behavior: The Home Cage Assay Advantages

Journal of Neurotrauma, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 41(13-14), P. e1780 - e1792

Published: March 22, 2024

This study utilized the Noldus PhenoTyper Home Cage Monitoring system (HCM) to assess behavioral and cognitive changes of experimental closed-head mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Seventy-nine adult male Institute Cancer Research (ICR) mice were subjected either a sham procedure or mTBI using weight-drop model. Seven days post-injury, separate cohorts underwent non-cognitive home cage assessment, treadmill fatigue test, Open Field Test. significantly influenced habituation behavior circadian wheel-running activity. Notably, exhibited an increased frequency visits running wheel, but each visit was shorter than those controls. No significant differences between groups in discrimination reversal learning performance observed. However, during stage, performed similarly their initial levels, suggesting abnormally faster rate learning. monitoring is valuable tool for studying subtle effects mTBI, complementing traditional assays. The automated evaluation novel stimuli (e.g., environment) could serve as potentially sensitive assessing mTBI-associated deficits.

Language: Английский

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Development of an IntelliCage-based cognitive bias test for mice

Open Research Europe, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 2, P. 128 - 128

Published: Aug. 8, 2023

The cognitive bias test is used to measure the emotional state of animals with regard future expectations. Thus, offers a unique possibility assess animal welfare housing and testing conditions laboratory animals. So far, however, performing such time-consuming requires presence an experimenter. Therefore, we developed automated home-cage based on IntelliCage system. We present several developmental steps improve experimental design leading successful measurement in group-housed female C57BL/6J mice. The allows obtain individual data from mice, mice their familiar environment, during active phase. By connecting test-cage via gating system, participated self-chosen schedule, indicating high motivation actively participate experiment. propose that this should have positive effect themselves as well data. Unexpectedly, showed optimistic after enrichment was removed additional restraining. An expectation consequence worsening environmental conditions, can also be interpreted coping strategy which potential profit sought maximized through higher willingness take risks.

Language: Английский

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A circadian behavioral analysis suite for real-time classification of daily rhythms in complex behaviors

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

Published: Feb. 28, 2024

Measuring animal behavior over long timescales has been traditionally limited to behaviors that are easily measurable with real-time sensors. More complex have measured time, but these approaches considerably more challenging due the intensive manual effort required for scoring behaviors. Recent advances in machine learning introduced automated analysis methods, often overlook long-term behavioral patterns and struggle classification varying environmental conditions. To address this, we developed a pipeline enables continuous, parallel recording acquisition of an indefinite duration. As part this pipeline, applied recent breakthrough self-supervised computer vision model reduce training bias overfitting ensure robustness. Our system automatically classifies performance approaching expert-level human labelers. Critically, occurs continuously, across multiple animals, real time. proof-of-concept, used our record from 97 mice two weeks test hypothesis sex estrogen influence circadian rhythms nine distinct home cage We discovered novel sex- estrogen-dependent differences properties several including digging nesting rhythms. present generalized version model, "circadian suite," (CBAS) as user-friendly, open-source software package allows researchers acquire analyze throughput rivals sensor-based allowing temporal were previously difficult or impossible observe.

Language: Английский

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Quantifying the Impact of Co-Housing on Murine Aging Studies

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

Published: Aug. 7, 2024

Abstract Analysis of preclinical lifespan studies often assume that outcome data from co-housed animals are indepen-dent. In practice, treatments, such as controlled feeding or putative life-extending compounds, applied to whole housing units, and a result the outcomes potentially correlated within units. We consider intra-class (here, intra-cage) correlation in three published two unpublished aged mice encompassing more than 20 thousand observations. show independence assumption underlying common analytic techniques does not hold these data, particularly for traits associated with frailty. describe demonstrate various analytical tools available accommodate this study design highlight limitation standard variance components models (i.e., linear mixed models) which usual statisti-cal tool handling errors. Through simulations, we examine statistical biases resulting intra-cage correlations similar magnitudes observed case discuss implications power reproducibility.

Language: Английский

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AI-Powered Home Cage System for Real-Time Tracking and Analysis of Rodent Behavior

iScience, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 27(11), P. 111223 - 111223

Published: Oct. 21, 2024

Language: Английский

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Appetitively motivated tasks in the IntelliCage reveal a higher motivational cost of spatial learning in male than female mice

Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 18

Published: Feb. 29, 2024

The IntelliCage (IC) permits the assessment of behavior and learning abilities mice in a social home cage context. To overcome water deprivation as an aversive driver learning, we developed protocols which spatial is motivated appetitively by preference for sweetened over plain water. While available at all times, only correct task responses give access to rewards. Under these conditions, C57BL/6J successfully mastered corner with reversal also learned more difficult time-place reversal. However, rate responding decreased strongly increasing difficulty, indicating that challenges reduced success obtaining rewards motivation animals seek both sexes showed similar initial taste preferences similarly well simple tasks, performance dropped rapidly male than female response challenges. Taken together, our data indicate can have disadvantage relative females mastering difficult, likely due sex differences value-based decision-making.

Language: Английский

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MIROSLAV: A modular open-source hardware and software platform for high-throughput circadian activity measurement and analysis in rodents

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

Published: June 29, 2024

Abstract While conventional behavioural tests offer valuable insight into rodent behaviour in specific paradigms, rodents spend most of their time a safe, undisturbed environment – home cage. However, cage monitoring (HCM) is often impractical at scale over prolonged periods without significant loss data. To achieve this, we developed MIROSLAV, the Multicage InfraRed Open Source Locomotor Activity eValuator, activity and environmental device designed to be open, adaptable, robust. Its transparent modular design allows tailored varying experimental requirements conditions, while its wireless operation multiple redundancies minimise data animal disturbance. Data quality maintained by software workflow for preparation (Prepare-a-SLAV) cleaning (TidySLAV), followed exploratory (MIROSine MIRO The Explorer) statistical StatistiSLAV) analysis circadian periodicity. Here, using demonstrate dysrhythmia disrupted response regular stimuli (e.g. testing, bedding change) rat model sporadic Alzheimer’s disease, showcasing MIROSLAV’s utility typical study disease. In accordance with 3Rs, every laboratory performing them can benefit from HCM, provided existence customisable tools which allow robust deployment tens or hundreds cages various conditions. MIROSLAV provides this opportunity researchers cost-effective manner.

Language: Английский

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A framework for a low‐cost system of automated gate control in assays of spatial cognition in fishes

Journal of Fish Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Oct. 17, 2024

Abstract Automation of experimental setups is a promising direction in behavioral research because it can facilitate the acquisition data while increasing its repeatability and reliability. For example, spatial cognition benefit from automated control by systematic manipulation sensory cues more efficient execution training procedures. However, commercial solutions are often costly, restricted to specific platforms, mainly focused on automation acquisition, stimulus presentation, reward delivery. Animal welfare considerations as well demands may require automating access an animal or animals arena. Here, we provide test low‐cost, versatile Raspberry Pi‐based solution for such use cases. We four application scenarios varying complexities, based our orientation navigation weakly electric fish, with step‐by‐step protocols gates setups. This easy‐to‐implement, platform‐independent approach be adapted various needs, including closed‐loop field experiments. As such, contribute optimization standardization experiments variety species, thereby enhancing comparability data.

Language: Английский

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Automated home cage monitoring of an aging colony of mice—Implications for welfare monitoring and experimentation

Frontiers in Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 18

Published: Oct. 29, 2024

Introduction Our understanding of laboratory animal behavior and the implications husbandry activities on their wellbeing remains incomplete. This is especially relevant with an aging colony as activity patterns may change they mature. Home Cage Monitoring (HCM) provides valuable insights into mouse within animal's own environment can shed light acclimatization periods responses to such cage changing. The aim this study was monitor explore changes in rest disturbance (RDI) male female C57/BL6 mice. Methods mice were housed Digitally Ventilated ® system, for up 18 months age. Data then downloaded investigate how RDI changed over time. Habituation, assessments conducted using linear mixed models, while separation stereotypic investigations by visual inspection data. Results As expected during study, less active phase compared dark phase. However, arrival displayed heightened reduced phase, taking several days adjust baseline “acclimatized” patterns. With age, overall significantly decreased from 5 until 14 after which it increased back toward levels. We also observed spikes our monitoring colony. Prolonged housing lead alarming behaviors animals. Cages flagged potential stereotypy sustained phases. Spikes much more pronounced than changing led increase previous day, no difference post-cage change. effect remained consistent animals aged. Discussion explores system. identified distinct phases concerning differences a new welfare application DVC , specifically early detection stereotypy. In conclusion, adoption HCM systems should be considered long-term both behavioral perspective.

Language: Английский

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