Quantifying Social Motivation in Mice Using Operant Conditioning

Loren Martin; Erica Iceberg

doi:10.3791/53009

JoVE Journal
Behavior

This content is Free Access.

JoVE Journal Behavior

Quantifying Social Motivation in Mice Using Operant Conditioning

量化的社会动机小鼠使用操作条件反射

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07:43 min

August 8, 2015

DOI: 10.3791/53009-v

Loren Martin¹, Erica Iceberg¹

¹Department of Graduate Psychology,Azusa Pacific University

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Overview

This article describes a protocol for quantifying social motivation in mice through operant conditioning for a social reward. This method is particularly useful for studying mouse models of autism and other social behavior disorders.

Key Study Components

Area of Science

Neuroscience
Behavioral Psychology
Animal Models

Background

Social motivation is critical for understanding social behaviors in various disorders.
Operant conditioning provides a framework for measuring motivation through reward systems.
Mouse models are commonly used to study social behavior and related disorders.
Existing methods may not adequately quantify social motivation compared to food rewards.

Purpose of Study

To develop a reliable protocol for measuring social motivation in laboratory mice.
To compare social motivation levels with food rewards.
To enhance understanding of social behavior in mouse models of autism.

Methods Used

Training mice to associate lever pressing with social rewards.
Testing effort required to obtain social rewards across trials.
Using a modular shuttle box setup for controlled testing conditions.
Employing video monitoring to observe social interactions during tests.

Main Results

Differences in breakpoint levels were observed between various mouse genotypes.
BTBR mice showed lower breakpoints compared to B6 mice, indicating reduced social motivation.
Food rewards were obtained more frequently than social rewards across both genotypes.
Heterozygous mice exhibited higher breakpoints than wild-type siblings.

Conclusions

The developed protocol effectively quantifies social motivation in mice.
This method can be applied to further investigate social behavior in autism models.
Future studies may explore specific social behaviors during reward presentations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main goal of the protocol?

The protocol aims to quantify social motivation in laboratory mice using operant conditioning.

How does the protocol differ from existing methods?

It requires progressively more effort to obtain a social reward compared to simply measuring proximity to a social partner.

What types of rewards are used in the study?

Both social rewards and food rewards are used to assess motivation levels.

What are the implications of the study's findings?

The findings help in understanding social motivation differences in various mouse genotypes, which can inform autism research.

Who conducted the study?

The study was conducted by undergraduate student researchers under the supervision of experienced faculty.

What equipment is necessary for the protocol?

A modular shuttle box, lever presses, and video monitoring equipment are essential for conducting the tests.

本文描述了一种使用作性条件反射来定量测量小鼠社会动机的新协议，以获得社交奖励。该协议可用于测量自闭症和其他社交行为障碍小鼠模型中的社会动机。

该程序的总体目标是量化社会动机和实验室小鼠。这是通过首先训练每只测试鼠标将杠杆按下与社交奖励联系起来来实现的。第二步是在一系列会话中测试每只小鼠，其中获得社交奖励所需的努力在试验中增加。

接下来，每只测试小鼠都经过训练以区分两个杠杆和奖励或有事件。最后一步是在一系列会话中测试每只老鼠，它们可以在这些意外事件之间进行选择，从而获得社交或食物奖励。最终，这些歌剧社会动机范式允许研究人员量化社会动机并将此水平与食物奖励的水平进行比较。

与现有方法相比，这种技术的主要优点是，这种范式需要逐渐更多的努力来获得社会奖励，而不是任务。简单地测量与社交伙伴近距离花费的时间我实验室的 Brianna Lum、Megan Raymond、Amy Patterson 和 Maryanne Slamma 本科生研究人员将演示该程序。要开始设置用于测试社交行为的中通道模块化穿梭箱，请在可编程断头台门的正面安装一个金属丝网，以分隔腔室并允许它们之间的有限社交接触。

门将箱体分为两个腔室，一个腔室为测试室，另一个腔室为门对面墙上的目标腔室。在两个鼠标杠杆程序之间放置一个液体勺食容器。鼠标杠杆可以打开断头台门或提供流态食物奖励。

根据测试要求，对手持按钮进行编程，使其在按下时打开门。在成型过程中，使用安装在测试室上方的数码摄像机监测测试小鼠的活动。整个设备封闭在一个消声隔间中。

首先将测试鼠标放在测试室中，将年龄和性别匹配的刺激小鼠放在目标目标室中。使用已安装的摄像机在测试室中观察测试鼠标。当测试鼠标探索腔室时，手动触发断头台门打开。

当接近控制杆时，让断头台门保持打开状态 15 秒进行加固。每天训练每只小鼠 30 分钟，直到它们在连续五次测试中的三次中表现出至少 10 个作性反应。如果小鼠在每天 30 次训练后仍未达到此标准，则将其从研究中移除。

交替在塑形过程中使用的刺激小鼠，以便每天使用不同的小鼠。在每次训练之间使用 70% 乙醇清洁穿梭箱。此外，在检测日结束时，使用消毒清洁剂清洁所有设备。

在测试过程中，使用足够大的新型刺激小鼠池，以便它们在每天 10 次测试期间不会重复。首先，将一只训练有素的测试小鼠放在测试室中，将一只刺激小鼠放在目标室中。对门进行编程以打开，以便每次试验获得社交奖励所需的杠杆按下次数以 3 次的固定速率增加。

当测试鼠标停止时结束会话。连续按压杠杆 5 分钟。将最后一个增强比率记录为断点。

每天连续测试每只鼠标 20 次或至少 10 次测试。观察渐近性能水平后。正如前面在社会激励范式中测试后所展示的那样，在每次测试之间擦拭穿梭箱，相同的小鼠接受包括食物奖励在内的任务训练。

准备用 0.2% 蔗糖增甜的淡奶，用作流质食品奖励。下一个程序，一个杠杆打开门，另一个杠杆提供流态食物奖励。交替奖励显示。

为避免在测试小鼠中引入杠杆偏倚，首先将小鼠置于相应的腔室中。在每个会话期间，只应激活一个杠杆和奖励。培训包括六节一小时的课程，每天在应急事件之间交替进行，在测试期间，以 3 比 1 的固定比例进行加固计划，以便每每按压每三侧的杠杆得到加固。

继续每天测试 60 分钟，持续 20 天，或在观察渐近表现水平后每天至少 10 次。如前所述清洁穿梭盒。单独饲养的 B 6 只小鼠的平均断点与饲养的 B 6 只小鼠组相似，而分组饲养的 BTBR 小鼠显示出显着较低的断点。

与 B 6 小鼠相比，BTBR 小鼠获得的食物奖励明显较少。虽然两组人都获得了更多的食物奖励而不是社会奖励。这些结果显示了转基因小鼠品系不同基因型的性能差异。

一项涉及不同转基因小鼠品系的另一项研究表明，与野生型兄弟姐妹相比，杂合子小鼠具有更高的断点与该程序结合使用。可以采用其他方法，例如测试的视频监控和刺激小鼠，以回答其他问题，例如在呈现社交奖励期间表现出哪些特定的社交行为。看完这个视频，你应该对如何使用作性条件反射来量化实验室小鼠的社交动机有一个很好的了解。

该程序对于自闭症和其他社交行为障碍的小鼠模型进行表型分析特别有用。