Startle response, prepulse inhibition, and sensorimotor gating are at the forefront of autism spectrum disorder studies. Understanding how they work together can provide further understanding of how startle response overstimulation or deficits occur. In this blog post, we will discuss what startle response is and why it is a key subject in autism studies. Continue reading “Why Startle Response Is at the Center of Autism Studies”
Category: Blog
How Relevant Is Animal Tremor Monitoring To Human Tremor Disorders?
Humans can experience tremors daily. As many of these tremors are so slight, they can quickly go unnoticed as we do not always see or feel them happening. However, noticeable tremors could be signs of anxiety, fatigue, too much caffeine, or even a medical condition such as essential tremor or Parkinson’s disease. Scientists engage in animal tremor monitoring to understand more about what causes tremors and how they can be managed. This blog post will look at how relevant animal tremor monitoring is to understanding human tremor disorders. Continue reading “How Relevant Is Animal Tremor Monitoring To Human Tremor Disorders?”
Using Photobeams To Measure Anxiety-Like Behavior In Mice
There is a wide range of instruments and mazes available to scientists who use animal models to gain a deeper understanding of behavior and how it works. Many of these instruments include mazes, recording devices and sensors to help scientists monitor animal behaviourisms, and using photobeams is one such example. This article will focus on how photobeams are used to measure anxiety-like behaviors in mice and why it is advantageous to the tests. Continue reading “Using Photobeams To Measure Anxiety-Like Behavior In Mice”
Barnes Maze vs. Water Maze
When assessing rodent behaviors, learning patterns, and memories, several instruments are available for this. Both the Barnes and water maze are popular choices for analyzing spatial learning in rodents. Still, their popularity has fluctuated over recent years due to their different advantages and drawbacks. This blog post will provide an overview of each maze and outline its benefits. Continue reading “Barnes Maze vs. Water Maze”
Assessing Spatial Learning with the Barnes Maze Protocol
Spatial learning refers to the process by which an organism memorizes details about its environment to live and find what it needs to survive. As spatial learning is a vital part of development, scientists need to understand how organisms remember certain things and use this to navigate their daily lives. This blog post will focus on how spatial learning is assessed in rodents by using the Barnes Maze protocol. Continue reading “Assessing Spatial Learning with the Barnes Maze Protocol”
What is a Plethysmometer Used For?
A plethysmometer is a valuable piece of equipment used to measure the effectiveness of anti-inflammatory agents that are experimentally induced in rodents. It can also be used to test agents designed to reduce endemic conditions. Throughout this blog post, we will look at how a plethysmometer is used and the benefits it provides in research laboratories.
How Does a Hot-cold Plate Work?
Hot-cold plates are used in research laboratories in the field of animal science. They are utilised to test the effectiveness of analgesics by subjecting subjects to a range of temperatures. This blog post will look at what hot-cold plates are and how they work.
What is the Working Principle of a Rotometer?
A rotometer is a powerful activity system designed to measure rotational behavior and movements in lab animals such as rodents. The study of drug-induced circling behavior in animals is key for drug development. For example, understanding rotational movements aids in demystifying the exact root causes of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and helps devise effective treatment. Continue reading “What is the Working Principle of a Rotometer?”
Using the Open Field Maze to Test for Anxiety
The world of behavioral and psychological research relies on observations of animal models. These models are typically rats and mice, which are easy to maintain and study in controlled and experimental environments. Mazes are a particularly useful tool to assess locomotor activity, learning and memory. Behaviors such as anxiety in mice and rats and the data collected from these studies can help inform health conditions in humans. This blog post will introduce the open field maze, how an open field maze tests for anxiety, and where to acquire an open field maze for specific laboratory studies. Continue reading “Using the Open Field Maze to Test for Anxiety”
How to Test Evoked Potential
Evoked potential studies measure electrical activity in the brain as a response to stimulation. This stimulus could be sound, touch, or sight and cause signals to move across nerves to the brain. In this article, we discuss key ways to detect and test evoked potential.