Assessment of Mouse Judgment Bias through an Olfactory Digging Task

Aileen MacLellan; Agustina Resasco; Lauren Young; Georgia Mason

doi:10.3791/63426

Évaluation du biais de jugement de la souris par le biais d’une tâche de creusement olfactif

JoVE Journal
Behavior

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JoVE Journal Behavior

Assessment of Mouse Judgment Bias through an Olfactory Digging Task

Évaluation du biais de jugement de la souris par le biais d’une tâche de creusement olfactif

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12:10 min

March 4, 2022

DOI: 10.3791/63426-v

Aileen MacLellan*¹, Agustina Resasco*^2,3, Lauren Young⁴, Georgia Mason¹

¹Department of Integrative Biology,University of Guelph, ²Institute of Cell Biology and Neurosciences,National Scientific and Technical Research Council-University of Buenos Aires, ³Laboratory of Experimental Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences,National University of La Plata, ⁴Department of Animal Biosciences,University of Guelph

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Overview

This article describes a novel mouse judgment bias protocol that is sensitive to affective states. The protocol's design is ethological, promoting ease of learning for mice while being welfare-friendly.

Key Study Components

Area of Science

Neuroscience
Behavioral Science
Animal Welfare Research

Background

This is the first validated mouse judgment bias task sensitive to mood changes.
The task assesses the impact of various variables on mouse affect.
It avoids punishment or negative reinforcement, enhancing animal welfare.
The task can be applied in diverse research fields.

Purpose of Study

To investigate the effects of experimental procedures on mouse affective states.
To provide a non-aversive method for assessing mouse emotions.
To facilitate research in animal welfare and human affective disorders.

Methods Used

A scent-based go-go digging task was employed.
Mice dig for high- or low-value food rewards.
Pilot tests are recommended to identify appropriate odor mixtures.
Non-aversive handling methods are emphasized for training.

Main Results

The protocol demonstrated sensitivity to changes in affective state.
Mice learned the task easily due to its ethological design.
The task is valuable for assessing husbandry impacts on mouse welfare.
It can model human affective disorders effectively.

Conclusions

The novel protocol is a significant advancement in behavioral research.
It provides insights into mouse affective states without negative reinforcement.
This method can enhance the understanding of emotional processes in animals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the mouse judgment bias task?

It is a behavioral test that assesses mice's responses to ambiguous stimuli based on their affective states.

How does this task ensure animal welfare?

The task avoids punishment and negative reinforcement, promoting a more humane approach to research.

What are the implications of this research?

It can inform studies on animal welfare and help model human emotional disorders.

What type of rewards are used in the task?

Mice dig for either high-value or low-value food rewards during the task.

Why are pilot tests recommended?

Pilot tests help identify the most effective odor mixtures that mice perceive as ambiguous.

Is prior training required for researchers?

Yes, researchers should be comfortable with non-aversive handling methods before conducting the task.

Cet article fournit une description détaillée d’un nouveau protocole de biais de jugement de souris. Les preuves de la sensibilité de cette tâche de creusement olfactif à l’état affectif sont également démontrées et son utilité dans divers domaines de recherche est discutée.

Il s’agit de la toute première tâche de biais de jugement de souris à être validée comme sensible aux changements d’état affectif, en d’autres termes, d’humeur ou d’émotion. Il peut être utilisé pour étudier les effets de n’importe quelle variable sur l’affect de la souris. Ce protocole utilise une conception éthologique, ce qui facilite l’apprentissage des souris, et il est également favorable au bien-être, car la tâche évite l’utilisation de punition ou de renforcement négatif.

Cette tâche peut évaluer l’impact de l’élevage ou des procédures expérimentales sur les états affectifs des souris, ce qui la rend précieuse dans divers domaines, tels que la recherche sur le bien-être animal ou la modélisation des troubles affectifs humains. En supposant que les chercheurs soient déjà à l’aise avec les méthodes de manipulation non aversives, notre principal conseil est d’utiliser des pilotes avant la formation pour identifier les mélanges d’odeurs appropriés, en d’autres termes, ceux que les souris traitent comme ambigus. Ce test comportemental est une tâche de creusement basée sur l’odeur dans laquelle une souris doit creuser pour obtenir des récompenses alimentaires de grande ou de faible valeur.

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