Complex behaviors are measured by eliciting species-specific social or “emotional” responses from animals, such as apathy and fear. These behaviors are validated by the ability to alter them with the same known genetic markers or psychoactive drugs that mediate the behavior in humans.

+ Elevated Plus Maze
Standard screening tool for detecting antidepressant- or antianxiety-like activity in mice

+ Light/Dark Box
Tests anxiety-like behaviors in rodents

+ Pre-Pulse Inhibition
Measures natural inhibition of fear induced arousal elicited by pre-exposure to a similar arousing stimulus. This innate mechanism is disturbed in stress and schizophrenia models

+ Social Interaction Apparatus
Used in the Social Interaction, Social Recognition, and Sociability tests. These tests measure sociability markers in mice and are typically used to detect abnormalities in social development (ie autism, maternal stress, William's syndrome)

+ Spontaneous Self-Grooming
Tests repetitive behavior in models of autism and other developmental abnormalities

+ Y-Maze
Tests perseveration in models of autism and other developmental abnormalities