University of Lethbridge View Institution's Website 13 articles published in JoVE Neuroscience Using Neuron Spiking Activity to Trigger Closed-Loop Stimuli in Neurophysiological Experiments Leonardo A. Molina1,2, Victorita E. Ivan1, Aaron J. Gruber*1, Artur Luczak*1 1Canadian Center for Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, 2Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary This protocol demonstrates how to use an electrophysiological system for closed-loop stimulation triggered by neuronal activity patterns. Sample Matlab code that can be easily modified for different stimulation devices is also provided. Biochemistry Structural Studies of Macromolecules in Solution using Small Angle X-Ray Scattering Tyler Mrozowich1, Steffane McLennan2, Michael Overduin2,4, Trushar R. Patel1,3,4 1Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, 2Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, 3Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 4DiscoveryLab, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta Here, we present how Small Angle X-Ray Scattering (SAXS) can be utilized to obtain information on low-resolution envelopes representing the macromolecular structures. When used in conjunction with high-resolution structural techniques such as X-Ray Crystallography and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, SAXS can provide detailed insights into multidomain proteins and macromolecular complexes in-solution. Biochemistry Toeprinting Analysis of Translation Initiation Complex Formation on Mammalian mRNAs Joseph A. Ross1, Nehal Thakor1,2,3 1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute, University of Lethbridge, 2Department of Neuroscience and the Canadian Centre for Behavioral Neuroscience (CCBN), University of Lethbridge, 3Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, University of Calgary Toeprinting aims to measure the ability of in vitro transcribed RNA to form translation initiation complexes with ribosomes under a variety of conditions. This protocol describes a method for toeprinting mammalian RNA and can be used to study both cap-dependent and IRES-driven translation. Behavior Frame-by-Frame Video Analysis of Idiosyncratic Reach-to-Grasp Movements in Humans Jenni M. Karl1, Jessica R. Kuntz2, Layne A. Lenhart2, Ian Q. Whishaw2 1Department of Psychology, Thompson Rivers University, 2Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge This protocol describes how to use frame-by-frame video analysis to quantify idiosyncratic reach-to-grasp movements in humans. A comparative analysis of reaching in sighted versus unsighted healthy adults is used to demonstrate the technique, but the method can also be applied to the study of developmental and clinical populations. Neuroscience A Large Lateral Craniotomy Procedure for Mesoscale Wide-field Optical Imaging of Brain Activity Michael Kyweriga*1, Jianjun Sun*1, Sunny Wang1, Richard Kline1, Majid H. Mohajerani1 1Canadian Center for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge This protocol presents a method for creating a large unilateral craniotomy over the temporal and parietal regions of the mouse cerebral cortex. This is especially useful for real time imaging over an expansive area of a cortical hemisphere. Behavior Moderate Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Quantification of Social Behavior in Adult Rats Derek A. Hamilton1,2, Christy M. Magcalas1, Daniel Barto1, Clark W. Bird1, Carlos I. Rodriguez1, Brandi C. Fink3, Sergio M. Pellis4, Suzy Davies2, Daniel D. Savage1,2 1Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, 2Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, 3Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico, 4Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge The goal of the protocol presented here is to describe procedures to expose rats to moderate levels of alcohol during prenatal brain development and to quantify resulting alterations in social behavior during adulthood. Neuroscience Visualizing the Effects of a Positive Early Experience, Tactile Stimulation, on Dendritic Morphology and Synaptic Connectivity with Golgi-Cox Staining Richelle Mychasiuk1, Robbin Gibb1, Bryan Kolb1 1Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge This paper describes the procedures for tactile stimulation of rat pups and subsequent Golgi-Cox staining of neuronal morphology. Tactile stimulation is a positive experience that is administered in the perinatal period by stroking pups with a household duster. Golgi-cox staining is a reliable procedure permitting the visualization of entire neurons. Neuroscience Peering into the Dynamics of Social Interactions: Measuring Play Fighting in Rats Brett T. Himmler1, Vivien C. Pellis1, Sergio M. Pellis1 1Department 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. Neuroscience Recording Large-scale Neuronal Ensembles with Silicon Probes in the Anesthetized Rat Andrea Gomez Palacio Schjetnan1, Artur Luczak1 1Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge Extracellular recordings of neuronal activity using silicon probes in the anesthetized rat will be described. This technique allows information to be obtained across multiple brain areas from more than 100 neurons simultaneously. It provides information with single cell resolution about neuronal ensembles dynamics in multiple local circuits. Biology The Ladder Rung Walking Task: A Scoring System and its Practical Application. Gerlinde A. Metz1, Ian Q. Whishaw1 1Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge The ladder rung walking task is a new test to assess skilled walking and measure both forelimb and hindlimb placing, stepping, and inter-limb co-ordination. Biology A Video Demonstration of Preserved Piloting by Scent Tracking but Impaired Dead Reckoning After Fimbria-Fornix Lesions in the Rat Ian Q. Whishaw1, Boguslaw P. Gorny1 1Department of Neuroscience, Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge In a piloting scent tracking task, the ability of the rats to return to a refuge with food using visual an odor trail or using dead reckoning in infrared light, the integrated record of previous movements, demonstrates that the hippocampus is necessary for dead reckoning. Biology Use of Rotorod as a Method for the Qualitative Analysis of Walking in Rat Ian Q. Whishaw1, Katie Li1, Paul A. Whishaw1, Bogdan Gorny1, Gerlinde A. Metz1 1Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge The rotorod test is used to assess motor status in the walking movement of hemi-Parkinson analogue rats. Biology The Structure of Skilled Forelimb Reaching in the Rat: A Movement Rating Scale Ian Q Whishaw1, Paul Whishaw1, Bogdan Gorny1 1Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge The skilled reaching scale divides the movement by a forelimb in a reach for food act into composite elements each of which are evaluated with a three-point scale. The rating scale is described for a normal rat and can be applied toward evaluating neurological motor disorders.
