Available Tests

The Animal Behaviors Core offers many different behavioral tests that may be combined in various ways to develop basic screening batteries for characterizing behavioral phenotypes for mutant mouse strains. The behavioral measures may be organized into six functional domains: sensorimotor functions, learning and memory capabilites, altered emotionality, social interactions, sensory capacities, and pain-related behaviors; the last two domains being evaluated within the departments of otolaryngology and anesthesiology, respectively. Tests currently being offered within each domain are listed below. Note that this is not an exhaustive list of the tests that may be performed/ Please contact This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it if you are interested in a test that does not appear below.

1. Sensorimotor Functions: basic battery - walking initiation, ledge, platform inclined/inverted screens and pole tests. Also: 1-hr locomotor activity; acoustic startle; prepusle inhibition; and ataxia tests (rotarod, grid, and footprint).
2. Learning and Memory: spatial - Morris water maze, radial arm maze, holeboard, reinforced alternation, spontaneous alternation; nonspatial - conditioned fear, passive avoidance, and conditioned place preference.
3. Altered Emotionality: elevated plus maze, open-field behaviors, light-dark test, force swim, tail suspension.
4. Social Interactions: resident intruder, homecage interactions, social reinforcement.
5. Sensory Capacities (Otolaryngology): electroretinogram (vision) and auditory brainstem response (audition); rotator shed (vestibular).
6. Nociception (Anesthesiology): thermal and mechanical sensitivity, formalin test, nocifensive behaviors in response to intrathecal drugs.