我们感谢斯坦尼斯拉夫·切尔 Lazopulo 对视频内容的帮助。

1. 使用果蝇活动监测器 (大坝) 测量飞行运动 注意: 有关详细信息, 请参阅参考 5 。
<ol> <li> 在一端和棉花上准备单独的苍蝇管。食物的末端应密封, 以防食物干燥。
	<ol> <li> 在50毫升的烧杯中放入5-6 克的飞行食物。把食物切成小块, 使它更容易融化. </li>
		<li> 连接32个单独的玻璃管和一个橡皮筋. </li>
		<li> 将烧杯中的食物加热到微波炉中10-15 秒. 每5秒停止微波炉, 并小心摇动烧杯, 以确保食物的均等融化. </li>
		<li> 当食物仍然是液体时, 把准备好的单独的管子放入烧杯中, 然后用食物。把管子上下移动, 这样它们就同样充满了. </li>
		<li> 允许食物冷却并固化约1小时. </li>
		<li> 食物固体后, 用烧杯中的食物取出管子. </li>
		<li> 用蜡封住含有食物的末端。首先, 用纸巾小心地清洗管子, 然后按下管子对蜡。目视检查密封件的质量, 如有必要, 再次重复密封. </li>
		<li> 用棉把管子的另一端关上; 棉花将允许空气通过, 同时保持一只苍蝇被锁在管子里. </li>
	</ol> </li> <li> 在每个单独的管道中放置一只苍蝇, 并将管道放置在大坝中. </li>
	<li> 将监视器放置在恒温恒湿的恒温箱中。根据实验, 设置适当的光/暗条件如下。
	<ol> <li> 用于进行光/暗实验以使苍蝇在光/暗循环中进行整个实验。不要在分析中使用测量的第一天. </li>
		<li> 对于恒定的黑暗实验, 首先保持苍蝇在光/黑暗的条件下, 夹带和同步时钟, 然后切换到恒定的黑暗。不要在分析中使用恒定黑暗的第一天的测量. </li>
	</ol> </li> <li> 收集可在分析中使用的至少四天的数据. 
	注: 大坝系统将输出一个单一的文件与移动记录的所有苍蝇在显示器. </li>
</ol> 2。数据分析 <ol> <li> 将监视器输出文件拆分为多个单飞活动文件; 每个文件都应是单个列和 #39; .txt 和 #39; 文件与个人飞行运动测量. </li>
	<li> 运行和 #39; ModelFitPS3 #39; 在 Matlab 命令窗口中使用以下输入参数: <ol> <li> For samplingrate , 设置数据采样时间间隔 (以秒为单位)。例如, 如果每分钟测量一次活动, 则输入60作为 samplingrate. </li>
		<li> for bin_interval , 设置搁置数据的时间间隔 (以分钟为单位), 以便更好地进行可视化; 建议的 bin 间隔为 20-30 min. </li>
		<li> For 趋势 , 输入 和 #34; 1 和 #34; 如果数据显示基线趋势和 #34; 0 和 #34; 否则; 趋势首先通过拟合第二阶多项式, 然后从数据中减去数据。
	</ol> </li> <li> 在弹出窗口中选择一个单飞活动文件. 
	注意: 第一个图形是数据功率谱, 而不是熟悉的活动图。从绘制的功率谱中, 确定主周期 T 0 : 在生理峰值上单击鼠标左键, 或者在第二个谐波峰值 (在 T 0 /2) 上用鼠标右键. </li>
	<li> 在打开的数据图中, 检查上午和晚上的峰值是否可视化。如果没有, 则通过右键单击关系图上的任意位置来更改 bin_interval 值, 并在对话框中输入新的 bin_interval 值。该程序将使用间隔的新值重绘数据。若要接受 bin_interval 值, 请在关系图上的任意位置单击左键. </li>
	<li> 程序将重新绘制数据, 并显示前五天的活动。在此图中, 单击将在分析中使用的第一个 M 峰值 (有时需要跳过一或两天). 
	注意: 该程序将重新绘制的图形从采摘的早晨峰值开始。蓝色和红色线将根据步骤2.4 中确定的期间分别显示 E 峰值和第二天 M 峰值的大致位置. </li>
	<li> 在同一图形上, 为数据的初步拟合选择数据与模型: 单击以下点 (按此顺序; 请注意, 单击的位置将在底部显示一个红星): (i) M 峰值的顶部;(ii) M 峰值的结束;(iii) 电子山顶的开始;(iv) 山顶;(v) 电子山顶的终点;(vi) 第二天最高的 M 峰值. </li>
	<li> 请注意, 该程序现在显示了功率谱. 
	注意: x 轴现在是以频率给定的。
	<ol> <li> 在打开的窗口中使用功率谱, 选取将用于拟合模型功率谱的解析表达式的点。在步骤2.4 中检测到的期间标记为红色线。要选取拟合点, 首先粗略确定主周期, 类似于步骤2.4。然后使用滑块, 微调主周期值, 以便在移动滑块后显示的管接头点 (以红色圆圈显示) 将关闭到峰值值. </li>
	</ol> </li> <li> 在视觉峰值选择之后, 单击并 #34; 接受和 #34; 该程序将与分析表达式的选取点配合以计算模型参数. </li>
	<li> 请注意, 参数和频谱拟合错误保存到文件和 #34; model_fit_parameters. txt 和 #34;; 该程序将另外保存2数字与适合的运动数据和它的功率谱. </li>
</ol>

<ol>
	<li>Pittendrigh, C. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Circadian+systems:+general+perspective.">Circadian systems: general perspective.</a> Biological Rhythms. II, 57-80 (1981).</li><li>Zhang, E. E., Kay, S. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Clocks+not+winding+down:+unravelling+circadian+networks.">Clocks not winding down: unravelling circadian networks.</a> Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 11 (11), 764-776 (2010).</li><li>Tataroglu, O., Emery, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+molecular+ticks+of+the+Drosophila+circadian+clock.">The molecular ticks of the Drosophila circadian clock.</a> Curr Opin Insect Sci. 7, 51-57 (2015).</li><li>Plautz, J. D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Quantitative+analysis+of+Drosophila+period+gene+transcription+in+living+animals.">Quantitative analysis of Drosophila period gene transcription in living animals.</a> J Biol Rhythms. 12 (3), 204-217 (1997).</li><li>Chiu, J. C., Low, K. H., Pike, D. H., Yildirim, E., Edery, I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Assaying+locomotor+activity+to+study+circadian+rhythms+and+sleep+parameters+in+Drosophila.">Assaying locomotor activity to study circadian rhythms and sleep parameters in Drosophila.</a> J Vis Exp. (43), e2157 (2010).</li><li>Helfrich-F&#246;rster, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Differential+control+of+morning+and+evening+components+in+the+activity+rhythm+of+Drosophila+melanogaster--sex-specific+differences+suggest+a+different+quality+of+activity.">Differential control of morning and evening components in the activity rhythm of Drosophila melanogaster--sex-specific differences suggest a different quality of activity.</a> J Biol Rhythms. 15 (2), 135-154 (2000).</li><li>Dautzenberg, F. M., Neysari, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Irreversible+binding+kinetics+of+neuropeptide+Y+ligands+to+Y2+but+not+to+Y1+and+Y5+receptors.">Irreversible binding kinetics of neuropeptide Y ligands to Y2 but not to Y1 and Y5 receptors.</a> Pharmacology. 75 (1), 21-29 (2005).</li><li>Lazopulo, A., Syed, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+mathematical+model+provides+mechanistic+links+to+temporal+patterns+in+Drosophila+daily+activity.">A mathematical model provides mechanistic links to temporal patterns in Drosophila daily activity.</a> BMC Neuroscience. 17 (1), 14 (2016).</li><li>Donelson, N., Kim, E. Z., Slawson, J. B., Vecsey, C. G., Huber, R., Griffith, L. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=High-resolution+positional+tracking+for+long-term+analysis+of+Drosophila+sleep+and+locomotion+using+the+&amp;#34;tracker&amp;#34;+program.">High-resolution positional tracking for long-term analysis of Drosophila sleep and locomotion using the &amp;#34;tracker&amp;#34; program.</a> PloS ONE. 7 (5), e37250 (2012).</li><li>Schlichting, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+Neural+Network+Underlying+Circadian+Entrainment+and+Photoperiodic+Adjustment+of+Sleep+and+Activity+in+Drosophila.">A Neural Network Underlying Circadian Entrainment and Photoperiodic Adjustment of Sleep and Activity in Drosophila.</a> J Neurosci. 36 (35), 9084-9096 (2016).</li><li>Guo, F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Circadian+neuron+feedback+controls+the+Drosophila+sleep-activity+profile.">Circadian neuron feedback controls the Drosophila sleep-activity profile.</a> Nature. 536 (7616), 292-297 (2016).</li></ol>

作者没有什么可透露的。

这项工作给出了使用计算工具的说明, 它提供了对飞行运动模式的定量描述。该工具适用于运动数据与一个数学模型, 由四指数术语, 共同描述的形状和大小的 M 和 E 峰。模型参数的最终值是从拟合数据的功率谱得到的, 在这里, 原始数据的使用可以避免数据分或过滤对参数值施加的 artefactual 影响。模型参数可用于进一步研究飞行运动和引起活动峰的机制。
该管接头的质量可以...

生物钟是一种内生的生化振荡器, 周期约24小时, 在动植物中几乎无处不在1,2。时钟有助于将生物体的内部过程和行为与外部光暗循环同步。自二十世纪六十年代使用果蝇、四腹果蝇以来, 昼夜节律时钟的遗传结构得到了广泛的研究。在这种昆虫中, 生物钟的核心包括四种蛋白质: 周期、永恒、时钟和周期。这些核心组分与其他分子一起形成一个反馈回路, 产生时钟基因的几乎正弦振荡3,4。在苍蝇的生物钟是广泛的研究使用多日运动记录, 飞行活动是检测到的一个单一的红外光束跨越中间的单个管5。一个典型的飞行记录有一个复杂的双峰模式与两个很好的可区分峰: 早晨峰值 (M), 开始在晚上的结束, 并有一个最大的灯打开;和傍晚峰值 (E), 它在一天结束时开始, 在指示灯关闭6时具有最大值。有趣的是, 这种行为记录的形状与在分子水平上观察到的简单的正弦振荡有很大的不同, 这暗示了额外的机制对观测到的时间模式的作用。为了更好地理解这些隐藏的机制, 我们开发了一个计算工具, 它提供了对时态模式的定量描述。
在我们的工作中, 运动节律的定义是一个波形, 模仿飞行活动模式。由于简单的正弦波不能用来对活动中观察到的节律变化进行建模, 我们测试了各种信号形状, 以选择最简单的方法来捕捉记录中所看到的所有显著特征。果蝇昼夜节律行为是由时钟神经元的活动控制的, 通常有指数模式的激活和失活7。数据的指数动力学和可视化分析促使我们建立一个指数条件的模型, 由四指数组成, 具有九独立参数, 与飞行活动模式8相似。除了运动数据外, 我们还分析了它的功率谱。典型的飞行活动谱显示多个峰值在谐波 t0/2, t0/3,等, 除了预期的基本峰值在生理周期 t0。根据傅立叶定理, 只有一个纯正弦波在功率谱中产生一个峰值, 而更复杂的波形在主周期的谐波中显示多个谱峰 (图 1)。因此, 考虑到飞行活动中的正弦时间模式8, 数据的峰功率谱在数学上是预期的, 并不一定意味着存在多个周期的振荡。重要的是, 所提出的模型波形的功率谱也显示了主周期所有谐波的峰值, 类似于飞行的运动记录, 从而强调了我们的模型描述的时间和频率上的飞行数据的高保真度。
在时间分辨率为几分钟或更少的情况下, 飞行活动数据出现噪音, 使得很难直接从原始数据中提取参数。分数据进入更长的时间间隔可以降低噪声水平, 但是, 可以改变数据的方式, 可能会影响模型参数的估计。因此, 我们从记录的功率谱中获取参数, 使用从模型函数的傅里叶变换中计算出的期望功率谱的解析表达式8 (参见附加文件1的引用8)。这种从功率谱获取参数的方法产生了精确的参数值, 而不需要对原始活动数据进行任何附加操作 (如分或过滤)。在参考8中描述了模型的数学细节以及对野生类型和突变数据的应用。这里介绍的协议集中于使用计算工具的 step-by 步骤指令。

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="1389">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:296px;">Drosophila Activity Monitor</td>
			<td style="width:81px;">TriKinetics</td>
			<td style="width:201px;">DAM2, DAM5</td>
			<td style="width:811px;">Measures fly locootion using single infrared beam</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:296px;">MatLab</td>
			<td style="width:81px;">Mathworks</td>
			<td style="width:201px;"></td>
			<td>Computing environment and programming language, MatLab should include Optimization and Symbolic Math toolboxes</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:21px;width:296px;">Drosophila melanogaster&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:81px;"></td>
			<td style="width:201px;">per[S], per[L], iso31(wild type)</td>
			<td>Our analysis can be performed with fly mutants of any circadian period</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

a computational method to quantify fly circadian activity

在大多数动物和植物中, 昼夜节律时钟协调行为和分子过程, 并使它们与每日暗周期同步。这种时间控制基础的基本机制被广泛地研究使用果蝇, 作为一个模型生物体 .在苍蝇, 时钟通常是研究通过分析多日运动记录。这样的记录显示了一个复杂的双峰模式, 有两个活动的高峰: 黎明时分发生的峰值, 以及黄昏时分发生的傍晚高峰。这两个峰值一起形成一个波形, 它与时钟基因中的正弦振荡非常不同, 这表明除了时钟之外的机制对产生行为数据中的观察到的模式有深远的影响。在这里, 我们提供了使用最近开发的计算方法的说明, 数学描述了飞行活动中的时态模式。该方法符合活动数据的模型波形, 包括四指数术语和九独立的参数, 充分描述的形状和大小的上午和晚上的活动高峰。提取的参数可以帮助阐明基底的动力学机制的基础上普遍观察到的双峰活动模式的飞行节律。

这里提出的方法可以量化的主要特点, 在飞行的运动模式。量化是通过将活动数据与由四指数术语组成的模型拟合来实现的:
<img alt="Equation 1" src="/files/ftp_upload/55977/55977eq1.jpg">
该模型具有描述活动模式的九独立参数。参数 bmd、bMR、bED、和...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Computational Method to Quantify Fly Circadian Activity at JoVE.com

A Computational Method to Quantify Fly Circadian Activity

量化飞行昼夜活动的一种计算方法

本文提出了一种量化飞行节律中主要时间特征的方法。通过拟合参数模型波形, 实现了飞行活动的量化。模型参数描述了每日活动的早晚峰值的形状和大小。

In most animals and plants, circadian clocks orchestrate behavioral and molecular processes and synchronize them to the daily light-dark cycle. ...

a-computational-method-to-quantify-fly-circadian-activity

Research

JoVE Journal

Behavior

5.9K 次观看.  University of Miami. 本文提出了一种量化飞行节律中主要时间特征的方法。通过拟合参数模型波形, 实现了飞行活动的量化。模型参数描述了每日活动的早晚峰值的形状和大小。

视频: A Computational Method to Quantify Fly Circadian Activity

Topographical Estimation of Visual Population Receptive Fields by fMRI

Visual cortex is retinotopically organized so that neighboring populations of cells map to neighboring parts of the visual field. Functional magnetic resonance imaging allows us to estimate voxel-based population receptive fields (pRF), i.e., the part of the visual field that activates the cells within each voxel. Prior, direct, pRF estimation methods1 suffer from certain limitations: 1) the pRF model is chosen a-priori and may not fully capture the actual pRF shape, and 2) pRF centers are prone to mislocalization near the border of the stimulus space. Here a new topographical pRF estimation method2 is proposed that largely circumvents these limitations. A linear model is used to predict the Blood Oxygen Level-Dependent (BOLD) signal by convolving the linear response of the pRF to the visual stimulus with the canonical hemodynamic response function. PRF topography is represented as a weight vector whose components represent the strength of the aggregate response of voxel neurons to stimuli presented at different visual field locations. The resulting linear equations can be solved for the pRF weight vector using ridge regression3, yielding the pRF topography. A pRF model that is matched to the estimated topography can then be chosen post-hoc, thereby improving the estimates of pRF parameters such as pRF-center location, pRF orientation, size, etc. Having the pRF topography available also allows the visual verification of pRF parameter estimates allowing the extraction of various pRF properties without having to make a-priori assumptions about the pRF structure. This approach promises to be particularly useful for investigating the pRF organization of patients with disorders of the visual system.

It is important to obtain unbiased estimates of visual population receptive fields (pRFs) by functional magnetic resonance imaging. We use mild regularization constraints to estimate pRF topography without a-priori assumptions about pRF shape, allowing us to choose specific pRF models post-hoc. This is particularly advantageous in subjects with visual-pathway lesions.

人口视觉感受野由功能磁共振成像地形估计

Visual cortex is retinotopically organized so that neighboring populations of cells map to neighboring parts of the visual field. Functional magnetic ...

科研

行为学

A Method for Remotely Silencing Neural Activity in Rodents During Discrete Phases of Learning

This protocol describes how to temporarily and remotely silence neuronal activity in discrete brain regions while animals are engaged in learning and memory tasks. The approach combines pharmacogenetics (Designer-Receptors-Exclusively-Activated-by-Designer-Drugs) with a behavioral paradigm (sensory preconditioning) that is designed to distinguish between different forms of learning. Specifically, viral-mediated delivery is used to express a genetically modified inhibitory G-protein coupled receptor (the Designer Receptor) into a discrete brain region in the rodent. Three weeks later, when designer receptor expression levels are high, a pharmacological agent (the Designer Drug) is administered systemically 30 min prior to a specific behavioral session. The drug has affinity for the designer receptor and thus results in inhibition of neurons that express the designer receptor, but is otherwise biologically inert. The brain region remains silenced for 2-5 hr (depending on the dose and route of administration). Upon completion of the behavioral paradigm, brain tissue is assessed for correct placement and receptor expression. This approach is particularly useful for determining the contribution of individual brain regions to specific components of behavior and can be used across any number of behavioral paradigms.

This protocol describes how to temporarily and remotely silence neuronal activity in discrete brain regions while rats are engaged in learning and memory tasks. The approach combines pharmacogenetics (Designer-Receptors-Exclusively-Activated-by-Designer-Drugs) with a behavioral paradigm (sensory preconditioning) that is designed to distinguish between different components of learning.

为远程沉默的神经活动在鼠害的方法在学习独立的阶段

This protocol describes how to temporarily and remotely silence neuronal activity in discrete brain regions while animals are engaged in learning and ...

A Method to Quantify Visual Information Processing in Children Using Eye Tracking

Visual problems that occur early in life can have major impact on a child's development. Without verbal communication and only based on observational methods, it is difficult to make a quantitative assessment of a child's visual problems. This limits accurate diagnostics in children under the age of 4 years and in children with intellectual disabilities. Here we describe a quantitative method that overcomes these problems. The method uses a remote eye tracker and a four choice preferential looking paradigm to measure eye movement responses to different visual stimuli. The child sits without head support in front of a monitor with integrated infrared cameras. In one of four monitor quadrants a visual stimulus is presented. Each stimulus has a specific visual modality with respect to the background, e.g., form, motion, contrast or color. From the reflexive eye movement responses to these specific visual modalities, output parameters such as reaction times, fixation accuracy and fixation duration are calculated to quantify a child's viewing behavior. With this approach, the quality of visual information processing can be assessed without the use of communication. By comparing results with reference values obtained in typically developing children from 0-12 years, the method provides a characterization of visual information processing in visually impaired children. The quantitative information provided by this method can be advantageous for the field of clinical visual assessment and rehabilitation in multiple ways. The parameter values provide a good basis to: (i) characterize early visual capacities and consequently to enable early interventions; (ii) compare risk groups and follow visual development over time; and (iii), construct an individual visual profile for each child.

A method is described to quantify the quality of visual information processing based on reflexive eye movements in response to specific visual modalities. Reaction times and fixation output parameters are used to characterize visual performance in children with and without visual impairments from 6 months of age.

一种方法来量化视觉信息加工儿童使用眼动追踪

Visual problems that occur early in life can have major impact on a child's development. Without verbal communication and only based on observational ...

Psychophysical Tracking Method to Measure Taste Preferences in Children and Adults

The Monell two-series, forced-choice, paired-comparison tracking method provides a reliable measure of sweet taste preferences from childhood to adulthood. The method, which is identical for children, adolescents, and adults, is of short duration (&#60; 15 min), does not rely on sustained attention or place demands on memory (which would yield spurious age differences), and minimizes the impact of language development, making this method amenable to the cognitive limitations of pediatric populations. In this whole-mouth tasting method, subjects are asked to taste (without swallowing) pairs of solutions of different sucrose concentrations and to point to the solution they prefer. Each subsequent pair contains the participant&#39;s preceding preferred concentration and an adjacent stimulus concentration. The procedure continues until the subject chooses either a given concentration of sucrose when paired with both a higher and a lower concentration, or the highest or lowest concentration two consecutive times. Subjects are prevented from reaching response criteria on the basis of first or second position bias by the two-series design of the method, which counterbalances the order of solution presentation within each pair between the series (the weaker concentration is presented first in Series 1, second in Series 2). The geometric mean of the two sucrose concentrations chosen in Series 1 and 2 is an estimate of the participant&#39;s most preferred level of sucrose. Sucrose preference as determined with this laboratory-based measure has been shown to be associated with preference for sugars in foods and beverages and with taste receptor genotype, family history of alcoholism, and race/ethnicity, as well as depressive symptomatology among pediatric populations. The method has real-world relevance and has been applied to determine most preferred level of other tastes (e.g., salt), making it a valuable psychophysical tool.

Sweet taste has powerful hedonic appeal among people of all ages, particularly children. Described herein is a reliable and valid method that can be used to determine the level of sweetness most preferred, making it a valuable psychophysical tool for scientists.

心理跟踪方法来衡量儿童和成人的口味偏好

The Monell two-series, forced-choice, paired-comparison tracking method provides a reliable measure of sweet taste preferences from childhood to ...

A Method to Test the Effect of Environmental Cues on Mating Behavior in Drosophila melanogaster

An individual's sexual drive is influenced by genotype, experience and environmental conditions. How these factors interact to modulate sexual behaviors remains poorly understood. In Drosophila melanogaster, environmental cues, such as food availability, affect mating activity offering a tractable system to investigate the mechanisms modulating sexual behavior. In D. melanogaster, environmental cues are often sensed via the chemosensory gustatory and olfactory systems. Here, we present a method to test the effect of environmental chemical cues on mating behavior. The assay consists of a small mating arena containing food medium and a mating couple. The mating frequency for each couple is continuously monitored for 24 h. Here we present the applicability of this assay to test environmental compounds from an external source through a pressurized air system as well as manipulation of the environmental components directly in the mating arena. The use of a pressurized air system is especially useful to test the effect of very volatile compounds, while manipulating components directly in the mating arena can be of value to ascertain a compound's presence. This assay can be adapted to answer questions about the influence of genetic and environmental cues on mating behavior and fecundity as well as other male and female reproductive behaviors.

A Method to Test the Effect of Environmental Cues on Mating Behavior in Drosophila melanogaster

We demonstrate an assay to analyze the environmental and genetic cues that influence mating behavior in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster.

测试环境线索对交配行为的影响的方法<em&gt;黑腹果蝇</em

An individual's sexual drive is influenced by genotype, experience and environmental conditions. How these factors interact to modulate sexual behaviors ...

A Method to Study Adaptation to Left-Right Reversed Audition

An unusual sensory space is one of the effective tools to uncover the mechanism of adaptability of humans to a novel environment. Although most of the previous studies have used special spectacles with prisms to achieve unusual spaces in the visual domain, a methodology for studying the adaptation to unusual auditory spaces has yet to be fully established. This study proposes a new protocol to set-up, validate, and use a left-right reversed stereophonic system using only wearable devices, and to study the adaptation to left-right reversed audition with the help of neuroimaging. Although individual acoustic characteristics are not yet implemented, and slight spillover of unreversed sounds is relatively uncontrollable, the constructed apparatus shows high performance in a 360&#176; sound source localization coupled with hearing characteristics with little delay. Moreover, it looks like a mobile music player and enables a participant to focus on daily life without arousing curiosity or drawing attention of other individuals. Since the effects of adaptation were successfully detected at the perceptual, behavioral, and neural levels, it is concluded that this protocol provides a promising methodology for studying adaptation to left-right reversed audition, and is an effective tool for uncovering the adaptability of humans to a novel environments in the auditory domain.

The present study proposes a protocol to investigate the adaptation to left-right reversed audition achieved only by wearable devices, using neuroimaging, which can be an effective tool for uncovering the adaptability of humans to a novel environment in the auditory domain.

一种研究左右反试镜的适应方法

An unusual sensory space is one of the effective tools to uncover the mechanism of adaptability of humans to a novel environment. Although most of the ...

Visual Classical Conditioning in Wood Ants

Several species of insects have become model systems for studying learning and memory formation. Although many studies focus on freely moving animals, studies implementing classical conditioning paradigms with harnessed insects have been important for investigating the exact cues that individuals learn and the neural mechanisms underlying learning and memory formation. Here we present a protocol for evoking visual associative learning in wood ants through classical conditioning. In this paradigm, ants are harnessed and presented with a visual cue (a blue cardboard), the conditional stimulus (CS), paired with an appetitive sugar reward, the unconditional stimulus (US). Ants perform a Maxilla-Labium Extension Reflex (MaLER), the unconditional response (UR), which can be used as a readout for learning. Training consists of 10 trials, separated by a 5-minute intertrial interval (ITI). Ants are also tested for memory retention 10 minutes or 1 hour after training. This protocol has the potential to allow researchers to analyze, in a precise and controlled manner, the details of visual memory formation and the neural basis of learning and memory formation in wood ants.

We present a protocol for the classical conditioning of harnessed ants that permits researchers to study visual learning and memory formation at a level of analysis not possible with freely moving individuals.

木蚁视觉经典调理

Several species of insects have become model systems for studying learning and memory formation. Although many studies focus on freely moving animals, ...

Modified Blood Collection from Tail Veins of Non-anesthetized Mice with a Vacuum Blood Collection System and Eyeglass Magnifier

Blood sample collection is the basis of experimental animal research. It is of importance to obtain adequate blood samples for various research purposes. The tail veins of mice are small, and it is sometimes difficult to obtain the required blood volume by conventional puncture methods. This study investigates the superiority of repeated blood sample collection from tail veins of mice through use of a vacuum blood collection system and eyeglass magnifier (experimental group) compared to conventional blood sampling methods (conventional group), performed by beginners and experts, respectively. With the help of an eyeglass magnifier, a butterfly needle tip is inserted into the tail vein of each mouse in the experimental group. When the vein is penetrated successfully, a blood sample is collected in the vacuum collection tube by insertion of the rubber end of a butterfly needle into the vacuum blood collection tube. The plunger is then used to collect blood without the help of the eyeglass magnifier in the conventional group. Success rates of blood sample collection by the beginners and experts were shown to be 70% vs. 100% (p &#60; 0.01) in the experimental group and 35% vs. 85% (p &#60; 0.01) in the conventional group. For both beginners and experts, puncture times required for obtaining required blood sample were significantly lower in the experimental group compared to the conventional group (2.40 &#177; 0.75 vs. 2.90 &#177; 0.31, p &#60; 0.05; 1.15 &#177; 0.37 vs. 1.55 &#177; 0.76, p &#60; 0.05). In conclusion, the presented blood sampling technique is feasible and easy to practice and enables frequent sampling of adequate blood volumes from non-anesthetized mice.&#160;

This study reports blood sampling from tail vein in mice using a vacuum extraction tube system with eyeglass magnifier. Our method is easy to practice and could be used for repeat blood sampling in mice.

真空采血系统和眼镜放大镜从非麻醉小鼠尾静脉中修饰采血

Blood sample collection is the basis of experimental animal research. It is of importance to obtain adequate blood samples for various research purposes. ...

A Laboratory Method to Measure Contagious Yawning in Rats

Communication is an essential aspect of animal social life. Animals may influence one another and come together in schools, flocks, and herds. Communication is also the way sexes interact during courtship and how rivals settle disputes without fighting. However, there are some behavioral patterns for which it is difficult to test the existence of a communicatory function, because several types of sensory modalities are likely involved. For example, contagious yawning is a communicatory act in mammals that potentially occurs through sight, hearing, smell, or a combination of these senses depending on whether the animals are familiar to one another. Therefore, to test hypotheses about the possible communicatory role of such behaviors, a suitable method is necessary to identify the participating sensory modalities.
The method proposed here aims to obtain yawn contagion curves for familiar and unfamiliar rats and evaluate the relative participation of visual and olfactory sensory modalities. The method uses inexpensive materials, and with some minor changes, it can also be used with other rodent species such as mice. Overall, the method involves the substitution of clear dividers (with or without holes) with opaque dividers (with or without holes) that either allow or prevent communication between rats placed in adjacent cages with holes in adjoining sides. Accordingly, four conditions can be tested: olfactory communication, visual communication, both visual and olfactory communication, and neither visual nor olfactory communication. As social interaction occurs between the rats, these test conditions simulate what may occur in a natural environment. In this respect, the method proposed here is more effective than traditional methods that rely on video presentations whose biological validity can raise concerns. Nonetheless, it does not discriminate between the potential role of hearing and roles of smell and vision in yawn contagion.

The method described here aims to obtain yawn contagion curves in pairs of familiar or unfamiliar male rats. Cages with holes separated by either clear or opaque partitions with (or without) holes are used to detect whether visual, olfactory, or both types of sensory cues can stimulate yawn contagion.

测量大鼠传染性偏航的实验室方法

Communication is an essential aspect of animal social life. Animals may influence one another and come together in schools, flocks, and herds. ...

Using the Race Model Inequality to Quantify Behavioral Multisensory Integration Effects

Multisensory integration research investigates how the brain processes simultaneous sensory information. Research on animals (mainly cats and primates) and humans reveal that intact multisensory integration is crucial for functioning in the real world, including both cognitive and physical activities. Much of the research conducted over the past several decades documents multisensory integration effects using diverse psychophysical, electrophysiological, and neuroimaging techniques. While its presence has been reported, the methods used to determine the magnitude of multisensory integration effects varies and typically faces much criticism. In what follows, limitations of previous behavioral studies are outlined and a step-by-step tutorial for calculating the magnitude of multisensory integration effects using robust probability models is provided.

The current study aims to provide a step-by-step tutorial for calculating the magnitude of multisensory integration effects in an effort to facilitate the production of translational research studies across diverse clinical populations.

使用种族模型不平等来量化行为多感官整合效应

Multisensory integration research investigates how the brain processes simultaneous sensory information. Research on animals (mainly cats and primates) ...