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Title: A robot-rodent interaction arena with adjustable spatial complexity for ethologically relevant behavioral studies
Outside of the laboratory, animals behave in spaces where they can transition between open areas and coverage as they interact with others. Replicating these conditions in the laboratory can be difficult to control and record. This has led to a dominance of relatively simple, static behavioral paradigms that reduce the ethological relevance of behaviors and may alter the engagement of cognitive processes such as planning and decision-making. Therefore, we developed a method for controllable, repeatable interactions with others in a reconfigurable space. Mice navigate a large honeycomb lattice of adjustable obstacles as they interact with an autonomous robot coupled to their actions. We illustrate the system using the robot as a pseudopredator, delivering airpuffs to the mice. The combination of obstacles and a mobile threat elicits a diverse set of behaviors, such as increased path diversity, peeking, and baiting, providing a method to explore ethologically relevant behaviors in the laboratory.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2123725
PAR ID:
10548919
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
Cell
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Cell Reports
Volume:
43
Issue:
2
ISSN:
2211-1247
Page Range / eLocation ID:
113671
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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