Computer automated movement detection for the analysis of behavior.

J Neurosci Methods

Section of Neurobiology and Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station, Austin, TX 78712, USA.

Published: May 2007

Currently, measuring ethanol behaviors in flies depends on expensive image analysis software or time intensive experimental observation. We have designed an automated system for the collection and analysis of locomotor behavior data, using the IEEE 1394 acquisition program dvgrab, the image toolkit ImageMagick and the programming language Perl. In the proposed method, flies are placed in a clear container and a computer-controlled camera takes pictures at regular intervals. Digital subtraction removes the background and non-moving flies, leaving white pixels where movement has occurred. These pixels are tallied, giving a value that corresponds to the number of animals that have moved between images. Perl scripts automate these processes, allowing compatibility with high-throughput genetic screens. Four experiments demonstrate the utility of this method, the first showing heat-induced locomotor changes, the second showing tolerance to ethanol in a climbing assay, the third showing tolerance to ethanol by scoring the recovery of individual flies, and the fourth showing a mouse's preference for a novel object. Our lab will use this method to conduct a genetic screen for ethanol-induced hyperactivity and sedation, however, it could also be used to analyze locomotor behavior of any organism.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1950293PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jneumeth.2007.01.005DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

locomotor behavior
8
showing tolerance
8
tolerance ethanol
8
computer automated
4
automated movement
4
movement detection
4
detection analysis
4
analysis behavior
4
behavior currently
4
currently measuring
4

Similar Publications

Aromatherapy was used to explore the sedative and hypnotic effects of essential oil on insomnia rats.

Food Sci Nutr

December 2024

The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Provincial Engineering Research Center of Ecological Food Innovation, Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Endemic and Ethnic Regional Diseases Co-constructed by the Province and Ministry, School of Public Health Guizhou Medical University Guiyang Guian New Area China.

is a type of plant that is used both for medicinal and food. (MS) are rich in volatile oil and have initially been employed to treat diseases of the nervous system. Insomnia, a prevalent neurological disorder, has led to this study's aim: to extract the essential oil from MS and analyze its potential to improve sleep.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Diethylnitrosamine (DEN), a common dietary carcinogen, is associated with neurotoxicity in humans and animals. This study investigated the neuroprotective effects of diphenyl diselenide (DPDS) against DEN-induced neurotoxicity in male Albino Wistar rats (n = 40). Rats were randomly distributed into cohorts and treated as follows: vehicle control (corn oil 2 mL/kg; gavage), DPDS-only (5 mg/kg; gavage) and DEN-only (200 mg/kg; single dose i.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a central nervous system condition that is typified by fluctuations in mood, oscillating between depressive and manic, and/or hypomanic episodes. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that strength training may act as a potent protector against behavioral and neurochemical changes induced by BD. A strength training protocol was performed with adult male Wistar rats, and seven days following the conclusion of training, a single ouabain injection was administered.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The inhibitory effect of nicotine on Lumbriculus variegatus stereotypical movements and locomotor activity.

Pharmacol Biochem Behav

December 2024

Swansea Worm Integrative Research Laboratory (SWIRL), Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Wales SA2 8PP, United Kingdom.

Nicotine has been shown to induce profound physiological and behavioural responses in invertebrate model organisms such as Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster. Lumbriculus variegatus is an aquatic oligochaete worm which we have previously demonstrated has application within pharmacological research. Herein, we demonstrate the presence of endogenous acetylcholine and cholinesterase activity within L.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Chronic stress can lead to anxiety and depression. Escitalopram is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), and crocin is a natural compound derived from saffron. Both of them are used to treat these disorders in clinical and traditional medicine, respectively.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!