Behavior:
The observable response a person makes to any situation.
JoVE Neuroscience
Local and Global Methods of Assessing Thermal Nociception in Drosophila Larvae
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2Scholars Academy/MARC Scholar, University of Houston-Downtown, 3Genes and Development Graduate Program, University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 4Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
In this article, we demonstrate assays to study thermal nociception in Drosophila larvae. One assay involves spatially-restricted (local) stimulation of thermal nociceptors1,2 while the second involves a wholesale (global) activation of most or all such neurons3. Together, these techniques allow visualization and quantification of the behavioral functions of Drosophila nociceptive sensory neurons.
JoVE Neuroscience
Using a Comparative Species Approach to Investigate the Neurobiology of Paternal Responses
1Department of Psychology, Randolph-Macon College, 2Department of Psychology, Marshall University
The comparative species approach allows behavioral neuroscientists to explore various neurobiological factors associated with specific behaviors viewed as characteristic of a specific animal model. Taking advantage of naturally occurring differences in behavior between closely related species, this technique doesn’t require invasive techniques to manipulate the expression of the behavior.
JoVE Immunology and Infection
Ex Vivo Red Blood Cell Hemolysis Assay for the Evaluation of pH-responsive Endosomolytic Agents for Cytosolic Delivery of Biomacromolecular Drugs
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, 2Vanderbilt Institute for Nanoscale Science & Engineering, Vanderbilt University, 3Interdisciplinary Materials Science Program, Vanderbilt University, 4Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 5Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, 6Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University
A hemolysis assay can be used as a rapid, high-throughput screen of drug delivery systems' cytocompatibility and endosomolytic activity for intracellular cargo delivery. The assay measures the disruption of erythrocyte membranes as a function of environmental pH.
JoVE Clinical and Translational Medicine
Driving Simulation in the Clinic: Testing Visual Exploratory Behavior in Daily Life Activities in Patients with Visual Field Defects
1Department of Neurology, Universitätsmedizin Charité, 2Center for Stroke Research Berlin (CSB), Universitätsmedizin Charité, 3Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin
Patients with visual deficits after stroke report about different constraints in daily life most likely due to variable compensatory strategies, which are difficult to differentiate in clinical routine. We present a clinical set-up which allows measurement of different compensatory head- and eye-movement-strategies and evaluating their effects on driving performance.
JoVE Neuroscience
Optogenetic Stimulation of Escape Behavior in Drosophila melanogaster
Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University
Genetically encoded optogenetic tools enable noninvasive manipulation of specific neurons in the Drosophila brain. Such tools can identify neurons whose activation is sufficient to elicit or suppress particular behaviors. Here we present a method for activating Channelrhodopsin2 that is expressed in targeted neurons in freely walking flies.
JoVE Neuroscience
Recording Behavioral Responses to Reflection in Crayfish
Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University
We have developed two methods for studying effects of visual cues on behavior in the absence of tactile and chemical cues. One method involves videotaping responses of crayfish to reflective walls in an aquarium; the other examines effects of visual inputs provided by a live crayfish behind a transparent partition.
JoVE Neuroscience
Rapid Determination of the Thermal Nociceptive Threshold in Diabetic Rats
1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Wright State University, 2Human Movement Laboratory, Universidade São Judas Tadeu
Here, we describe a rapid reliable and simple procedure to determine the lowest temperature at which rats or mice show nocifensive behavior, i.e. the thermal nociceptive threshold (TNT). This method applies a slowly increasing thermal stimulus allowing precise and reproducible estimation of TNTs with minimum, if any, stress to the animals.
JoVE General
Light/dark Transition Test for Mice
The light/dark transition test is one of the most widely used tests to measure anxiety-like behavior in mice. Here, we present a movie that shows detailed procedures on how we conduct the test.
JoVE Neuroscience
Measuring the Subjective Value of Risky and Ambiguous Options using Experimental Economics and Functional MRI Methods
1Section of Comparative Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, 2Department of Neurobiology, Yale School of Medicine, 3Center for Neural Science, New York University, 4Department of Psychology, New York University, 5Department of Economics, New York University
Using functional MRI and behavioral methods to determine the neural representation of the subjective value of risky and ambiguous options in the human brain.
JoVE General
An Explant Assay for Assessing Cellular Behavior of the Cranial Mesenchyme
Center for Neuroscience Research, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center
The cranial mesenchyme undergoes dramatic morphogenic movements that likely provides a driving force for elevation of the neural folds1,2. Here we describe a simple ex vivo explant assay to characterize the cellular behaviors of the cranial mesenchyme during neurulation. This assay has numerous applications including being amenable to pharmacological manipulations and live imaging analyses.
JoVE Neuroscience
A Fully Automated and Highly Versatile System for Testing Multi-cognitive Functions and Recording Neuronal Activities in Rodents
The Neurosciences Institute, San Diego, CA
In this report, we present a fully automated and highly versatile system capable of simultaneously testing multi-cognitive behaviors and recording neuronal activities for rodents.
JoVE Neuroscience
State-Dependency Effects on TMS: A Look at Motive Phosphene Behavior
1Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 2Brain Research Unit, Low Temperature Laboratory and Advanced magnetic Imaging Center, Aalto University School of Science and Technology
In this article, we examine the effects of visually relevant state dependency on TMS induced motive phosphenic presentations.
JoVE General
Elevated Plus Maze for Mice
1Genetic Engineering and Functional Genomics Unit, Frontier Technology Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 2Institute for Comprehensive Medical Science Division of Systems Medicine, Fujita Health University
The elevated plus maze test is one of the most widely used tests for measuring anxiety-like behavior in mice. Here, we present a movie showing the detailed procedures for conducting the test.
JoVE Neuroscience
Assessment of Social Interaction Behaviors
1Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, 2Toronto Centre for Phenogenomics, Mount Sinai Hospital, 3Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, 4Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, 5Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto
Here we describe a detailed protocol for examination of sociability in mice by using Crawley's sociability and preference for social novelty test. We describe the advantages and possible applications for this procedure, including critical details important for correct interpretation of the results.
JoVE General
Studying Aggression in Drosophila (fruit flies)
Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School
JoVE Neuroscience
The Tail Suspension Test
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 2Tulane University School of Medicine, 3The Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland, 4Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine
The tail-suspension test is validated as an experimental procedure to assess antidepressant efficacy of drug treatments in mice. Mice are suspended by their tails for six minutes and escape-related behaviors are assessed. We describe procedures used in conducting the tail suspension test.
JoVE Neuroscience
Light Preference Assay to Study Innate and Circadian Regulated Photobehavior in Drosophila Larvae
Department of Biology, Institute of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Fribourg
Here we describe a light-dark preference test for Drosophila larva. This assay provides information about innate and circadian regulation of light sensing and processing photobehavior.
JoVE Neuroscience
C. elegans Tracking and Behavioral Measurement
1Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, 2Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit, 3Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, 4Department of Physics, University of Toronto
We have developed a video-rate tracking microscope system that can record and quantify C. elegans behavior at high resolution and high speeds. We have also developed computational methods to reduce the dimensionality of the worm images to a fundamental set of measurements that completely describe the shape of the worm.
JoVE Bioengineering
Mechanical Testing of Mouse Carotid Arteries: from Newborn to Adult
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Saint Louis University
Passive mechanical testing of mouse carotid arteries is described, with special consideration for adapting to different specimen ages. The procedures include determining the in vivo length of the artery, mounting it in a pressure myograph, recording data, measuring the unloaded dimensions and analyzing the resulting data.
JoVE General
Recordings of Neural Circuit Activation in Freely Behaving Animals
Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Program , University of Maryland
Non-invasive measurements of neural activity patterns in freely behaving animals are obtained by combining neurophysiological recordings with high speed videography.
JoVE Neuroscience
An In Vitro Preparation for Eliciting and Recording Feeding Motor Programs with Physiological Movements in Aplysia californica
1Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, 2Department of Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University, 3Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University
We describe a technique to extracellularly record and stimulate from nerves, muscles, and individual identified neurons in vitro while eliciting and observing different types of feeding behaviors in the feeding apparatus of Aplysia.
JoVE Neuroscience
Optogenetic Activation of Zebrafish Somatosensory Neurons using ChEF-tdTomato
Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles
Optogenetic techniques have made it possible to study the contribution of specific neurons to behavior. We describe a method in larval zebrafish for activating single somatosensory neurons expressing a channelrhodopsin variant (ChEF) with a diode-pumped solid state (DPSS) laser and recording the elicited behaviors with a high-speed video camera.
JoVE Neuroscience
The Mouse Forced Swim Test
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 2Tulane University School of Medicine, 3Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 4The Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland
The forced swim test is validated as an experimental approach to assess potential antidepressant efficacy in rodents. Experimental animals are placed in a tank of water and escape-related mobility behavior is quantified. The common procedures for the mouse version of this test are described.
JoVE General
Using the optokinetic response to study visual function of zebrafish
Optokinetic response has been widely used to assess the visual functions of larval zebrafish. Nevertheless, the standard protocol for larval fish is not yet readily applicable in adults1-5. Here, we introduce how to measure the OKR of adult zebrafish using a new protocol which is established in our lab.
JoVE Neuroscience
Methods to Assay Drosophila Behavior
1Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 2Department of Genetics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
Drosophila melanogaster is a genetically and behaviorally tractable model system that has been used to understand the molecular and cellular basis of many important biological processes for over a century 1. Drosophila has been well exploited to gain insights into the genetic basis of fly behavior.
JoVE General
High-resolution Measurement of Odor-Driven Behavior in Drosophila Larvae
Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior, Rockefeller University
In this video article, we describe a new method allowing the construction of odorant gradients with stable and controllable geometries. We briefly illustrate how these gradients can be used to screen for olfactory defects (full and partial anosmia) and to study more subtle features of chemotaxis behavior.
JoVE Clinical and Translational Medicine
Quantifying Cognitive Decrements Caused by Cranial Radiotherapy
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California Irvine
Cognitive impairment resulting from the radiotherapeutic management of brain tumors represents a clinically intractable condition that adversely impacts quality of life. The capability to critically evaluate potential interventions for ameliorating radiation-induced cognitive decrements ultimately depends on the capability to undertake rigorous quantitative assessments of cognition.
JoVE Neuroscience
Vertical T-maze Choice Assay for Arthropod Response to Odorants
Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida
A vertical, T-maze olfactometer is described for assaying the behavioral response of arthropods. The olfactometer allows the experimenter to measure choices performed by test subjects when subjected to two potential odor fields. Both attraction to and repulsion from odorants can be measured with this device.
JoVE Neuroscience
The Vermicelli and Capellini Handling Tests: Simple quantitative measures of dexterous forepaw function in rats and mice
1Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, 2Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, 3Department of Neurology, University of Florida, 4Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida
The Vermicelli and Capellini Handling Tests of forepaw dexterity take advantage of the natural inclination of rodents to manipulate food items using skillful forepaw and digit movements. Animals are videotaped while handling short strands of uncooked dry pasta. Slow motion video playback allows for the quantification of forepaw adjustments.
JoVE Clinical and Translational Medicine
Acute and Chronic Tactile Sensory Testing after Spinal Cord Injury in Rats
1Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Repair, School of Allied Medical Professions, The Ohio State University, 2Spinal Cord Research Center, Drexel University College of Medicine
We describe two tactile sensory testing methods for acute or chronic periods of spinal cord injury in rats. These validated procedures can detect the development and maintenance of allodynia-like sensations.
JoVE Editorial
April 2011: This Month in JoVE
Here are some highlights from the April 2011 Issue of Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE).
JoVE Bioengineering
Impulsive Pressurization of Neuronal Cells for Traumatic Brain Injury Study
Department of Engineering Mechanics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
A novel impulsive cell pressurization experiment has been developed using a Kolsky bar device to investigate the molecular/cellular mechanisms of blast-induced traumatic brain injury.
JoVE Neuroscience
Simultaneous Recording of Calcium Signals from Identified Neurons and Feeding Behavior of Drosophila melanogaster
Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School
The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, extends its proboscis for feeding, responding to a sugar stimulus from its proboscis or tarsus. I have combined observations of the proboscis extension response (PER) with a calcium imaging technique, allowing us to monitor the activity of neurons in the brain, simultaneously with behavioral observation.
JoVE Neuroscience
Combining Behavioral Endocrinology and Experimental Economics: Testosterone and Social Decision Making
1Institute for Empirical Research in Economics, Laboratory for Social and Neural Systems Research, University of Zurich, 2Department of Economics, Royal Holloway, University of London
The procedure described in this protocol shows that testosterone administration and folk beliefs about testosterone may be associated with directly opposed social behaviors.
JoVE Neuroscience
A General Method for Evaluating Incubation of Sucrose Craving in Rats
Department of Psychology and Program in Behavioral Neuroscience, Western Washington University
Responding for food or drug-paired cues increases over the course of a period of abstinence and this may relate to an increased susceptibility to relapse behaviors. Here we detail a procedure for evaluating this "incubation of craving" in rats that have self-administered sucrose.
JoVE Neuroscience
Automated Interactive Video Playback for Studies of Animal Communication
1Department of Visualization, Texas A&M University (TAMU), 2Department of Biology, Texas A&M University (TAMU)
Video playback is a widely used technique in animal behavior. We created and evaluated a program that applies rules-based, interactive playback of 3-D computer animations in response to real-time, automated data on subject behavior.
JoVE Neuroscience
Assessing Neurodegenerative Phenotypes in Drosophila Dopaminergic Neurons by Climbing Assays and Whole Brain Immunostaining
Department of Biomolecular Genetics, University of Rochester Medical Center
Here we describe two assays that have been established to study age-dependent neurodegeneration of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in Drosophila: the climbing/startle-induced negative geotaxis assay which allows to study the functional effects of DA neurons degeneration and the tyrosine hydroxylase immunostaining which is used to identify and count DA neurons in whole brain mounts.
JoVE Neuroscience
Tactile Conditioning And Movement Analysis Of Antennal Sampling Strategies In Honey Bees (Apis mellifera L.)
In this protocol we show how to condition harnessed honey bees to tactile stimuli and introduce a 2D motion capture technique for analyzing the kinematics of fine-scale antennal sampling pattern.
JoVE Neuroscience
Low-stress Route Learning Using the Lashley III Maze in Mice
1Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, 2Center for Developmental and Health Genetics, Pennsylvania State University, 3Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, 4Huck Institute of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, 5California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, 6Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles
The Lashley III maze is a route-learning task that does not rely on aversive stimuli or visual cues. It is thus a highly attractive option for evaluating learning and memory, especially in aging mice or otherwise where stress is a consideration.
JoVE Neuroscience
A Procedure for Studying the Footshock-Induced Reinstatement of Cocaine Seeking in Laboratory Rats
Psychology, University of Toronto Scarborough
Animal models of relapse, known as reinstatement procedures, have been used extensively to study the role of stress in relapse to drug seeking. Here, we report on a method for inducing the reinstatement of cocaine seeking in laboratory rats via acute exposures to mild, intermittent electric footshock.
JoVE Neuroscience
Progressive-ratio Responding for Palatable High-fat and High-sugar Food in Mice
CRCHUM and the Montreal Diabetes Research Center, University of Montreal
The present report details the protocol employed to measure the rewarding effects of high-fat food in mice using a progressive ratio operant conditioning task.
JoVE Immunology and Infection
Measurement of Tactile Allodynia in a Murine Model of Bacterial Prostatitis
Department of Urology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Infection of the prostate may be a contributing factor in mediating pelvic pain in chronic prostatitis. We describe the procedure for preparation of standardized bacterial inoculum, instillation of bacteria into the urethra of male mice and methodology for measuring tactile allodynia in mice over time.
JoVE Bioengineering
Plasma Lithography Surface Patterning for Creation of Cell Networks
1Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Arizona, 2Biomedical Engineering IDP and BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona
A versatile plasma lithography technique has been developed to generate stable surface patterns for guiding cellular attachment. This technique can be applied to create cell networks including those that mimic natural tissues and has been used for studying several, distinct cell types.
JoVE Immunology and Infection
A New Screening Method for the Directed Evolution of Thermostable Bacteriolytic Enzymes
Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland
A novel directed evolution method specific to the field of thermostability engineering was developed and consequently validated for bacteriolytic enzymes. After only one round of random mutagenesis, an evolved bacteriolytic enzyme, PlyC 29C3, displayed greater than twice the residual activity when compared to the wild-type protein after elevated temperature incubation.
JoVE Bioengineering
Quantitative Locomotion Study of Freely Swimming Micro-organisms Using Laser Diffraction
1Physics & Astronomy Department, Vassar College, 2Biology Department, Vassar College
Microscopic organisms like the free-swimming nematode C. elegans, live and behave in a complex three-dimensional environment. We report on a novel approach that provides analysis of C. elegans using diffraction patterns. This approach consists of tracking the temporal periodicity of diffraction patterns generated by directing laser light through a cuvette.
JoVE Neuroscience
T-maze Forced Alternation and Left-right Discrimination Tasks for Assessing Working and Reference Memory in Mice
1Division of Systems Medical Science, Institute for Comprehensive Medical Science, Fujita Health University, 2Japan Science and Technology Agency, Core Research for Evolutionary Science and Technology (CREST), 3Center for Genetic Analysis of Behavior, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences
This article presents the protocol of T-maze tests using a modified automated apparatus for assessing the learning and memory functions in mice.
JoVE Neuroscience
Peering into the Dynamics of Social Interactions: Measuring Play Fighting in Rats
Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge
Play fighting in the rat involves attack and defense of the nape of the neck, which if contacted, is gently nuzzled with the snout. Because the movements of one animal are countered by the actions of its partner, play fighting is a complex, dynamic interaction. This dynamic complexity raises methodological problems about what to score for experimental studies. We present a scoring schema that is sensitive to the correlated nature of the actions performed. Two experiments illustrate how these measurements can be used to detect the effect of brain damage on play fighting even when there is no effect on overall playfulness. That is, the schema presented here is designed to detect and evaluate changes in the content of play following an experimental treatment.
JoVE Neuroscience
Assaying Locomotor, Learning, and Memory Deficits in Drosophila Models of Neurodegeneration
Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine
Behavior assays for measuring locomotor functions, learning, and memory abilities in Drosophila.
JoVE Immunology and Infection
Intravital Imaging of the Mouse Popliteal Lymph Node
1Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, 2Department of Pediatrics, Pathology and Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University
Recent advances in 2-photon microscopy have enabled real-time in situ imaging of live tissues in animal models, thereby enhancing our ability to investigate cellular behavior in both physiologic and pathologic conditions. Here, we outline the preparations required to perform intravital imaging of the mouse popliteal lymph node.
JoVE Bioengineering
Separating Beads and Cells in Multi-channel Microfluidic Devices Using Dielectrophoresis and Laminar Flow
1Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2Micro and Nanotechnology Lab, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 3Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 4Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Dielectrophoresis (DEP) is an effective method to manipulate cells. Printed circuit boards (PCB) can provide inexpensive, reusable and effective electrodes for contact-free cell manipulation within microfluidic devices. By combining PDMS-based microfluidic channels with coverslips on PCBs, we demonstrate bead and cell manipulation and separation within multichannel microfluidic devices.
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