A ketogenic diet affects brain volume and metabolome in juvenile mice.

Ketogenic diet (KD) is a high-fat and low-carbohydrate therapy for medically intractable epilepsy, and its applications in other neurological conditions, including those occurring in children, have been increasingly tested. However, how KD affects childhood neurodevelopment, a highly sensitive and plastic process, is not clear. In this study, we explored structural, metabolic, and functional consequences of a brief treatment of a strict KD (weight ratio of fat to carbohydrate plus protein is approximately 6.

Watching from a distance: A robotically controlled laser and real-time subject tracking software for the study of conditioned predator/prey-like interactions.

Background: The physical distance between predator and prey is a primary determinant of behavior, yet few paradigms exist to study this reliably in rodents.

New Method: The utility of a robotically controlled laser for use in a predator-prey-like (PPL) paradigm was explored for use in rats. This involved the construction of a robotic two-dimensional gimbal to dynamically position a laser beam in a behavioral test chamber.