Behavior Testing Core

Behavioral Assays – Sensory/Motor Tests

An assortment of tests measuring sensory and motor performance can determine gross function as well as more precise targets such as lateralized motor movement and coordination.

Balance Wall

Measures balance, coordination, and distance traveled along a narrow platform

Cylinder Test

Measures cerebral asymmetry in forelimb motor function. Typically used in stroke, Parkinson’s, and brain tumor models. Suggested whenever lateralized motor abnormalities are suspected

Grip Strength

Quantifies grip force ability in forelimbs and hindlimbs

Ladder Challenge

Motor function, coordination, balance

Neurological Screen

Basic screen for gross sensory and locomotor function

Open Field

Automated evaluation of gross locomotor activity. First level assessment of motor function or for screening sedative effects of pharmacotherapy

Optomotry

Visual acuity and contrast thresholds

Rotarod

Motor function, coordination, balance

Rotometer

Measures rotational asymmetry following unilateral changes to the central nervous system

Treadmill

Motor function, coordination, agility

Visual Cliff Test

Determines gross visual function

Behavioral Assays – Learning and Memory

Cognitive tests utilize standard measures of learning and memory that target global or specific modalities of memory, including the 5 senses and spatial memory.

Barnes Maze

Hippocampal task tracking memory acquisition, retrieval, and reversal

Fear Conditioning

Operant conditioning task evaluating context and cue induced learning and memory

Morris Water Maze

Hippocampal task tracking memory acquisition, retrieval, and reversal

Novel Object Recognition

Object recognition memory task

Passive Avoidance

Examines associative learning and memory through response inhibition by an aversive event

Y-Maze

Standard test for measuring working spatial memory

Behavioral Assays – Complex Behaviors

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