A method for testing animal cognitive behavior

Abstract

An animal cognitive behavior test device and test method based on multimodal stimulation, the device includes: a multi-arm maze, including a plurality of passages as arms of the maze, extending from the central area of ​​the maze to different directions, wherein one or more The entrance of the passage is provided with a display screen and a sound source, and the end of the passage is closed; the camera device is located above the multi-arm maze, and is used to obtain images of animals in the multi-arm maze; the controller is connected with the multi-arm maze. The display screen, the sound source are connected to the camera device, and are used to control the image displayed on the display screen and the sound emitted by the sound source, and to record and count the image data obtained by the camera device. The invention can meet the requirements of more complex animal learning and memory experiments.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention belongs to the field of scientific research instruments used for animal behavior experiments, in particular to a device for testing animal cognitive behavior by giving multiple sensory stimuli (multimodal stimuli) and a method for testing animal cognitive behavior based on the device. Background technique [0002] Behavior is the final output of brain activity. Therefore, if you want to understand the performance of learning and memory in animals under the influence of drugs or brain damage, you need to observe their behavior in specific tasks. However, scientific experiments need to eliminate the influence of various irrelevant factors in the environment on behavior, and to quantify behavior, it is necessary to put animals into behavioral devices. Therefore, well-designed behavioral devices are often the key to whether related experiments can be carried out smoothly. [0003] One type of ethological device currently used to test animal...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0006] However, the series of stimuli given by the training devices described above have limitations

Because the stimulation components are relatively simple, the stimulation mode is too single

The stimulation mode of the first patent mentioned above is only the strength of the current; the stimulation mode of the second patent is more, but it only stays on the presence or absence of food and the point sound source (speaker) and point light source (bulb). On and off, the strength of electrical stimulation, the stimulation mode is monotonous and cannot be programmed to achieve its change

When the experimental animals choose one arm of the maze and prepare to enter, the above two stimuli have no regular changes in space and time, and cannot be controlled by programs, so it is impossible to study the advanced cognitive functions of experimental animals.

Images