High-throughput low-cost digital lickometer system for the assessment of licking behaviours in mice.

Background: Proper hydration is essential for maintaining health and supports various biological processes, including temperature regulation, immune function, nutrient delivery, and organ function. Visual assessment has traditionally been used to quantify liquid intake, although technological advances in optical and electrical sensors now offer higher accuracy and larger potential for automatic operation with millisecond precision and individual lick resolution.

New Method: We describe an inexpensive electronic sensor board to monitor mouse licking behavior.