This research was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health MH 086960-01A1 (Christa K. McIntyre).

The authors have no competing interests or conflicts.

Wir stellen Ihnen hier ein Protokoll, das verwendet wird, um vom Aussterben konditionierter Angst während einer einzigen Sitzung der Exposition gegenüber konditionierten Signale 19 zu erleichtern und die Plastizität in den Weg zwischen dem infralimbischen Kortex und der basolateralen Amygdala, die vermitteln können Aussterben Lernen 20 zu modulieren. Ein entscheidender Schritt für den Erfolg dieses Protokolls ist die ordnungsgemäße Lieferung der VNS bei Aussterben Ausbildung. Daher sollte be...

Klassische Angstkonditionierung stellt eine weit verbreitete Tiermodell, um die biologischen Grundlagen von Angststörungen zu untersuchen. Während der Furchtkonditionierung, ein aversiven Reiz (der unbedingten Reiz, USA, zum Beispiel ein Fuß-Schock) wird in Verbindung mit einem neutralen Reiz, wie eine Ton und / oder einem Kontext (; CS der bedingten Reiz) präsentiert. Während der Furchtkonditionierung, Verbände zwischen der CS und den USA ausgebildet. Schließlich wird die Präsentation des CS allein löst eine Angstreaktion (die konditionierte Reaktion; CR). In Furchtextinktion wird der CS wiederholt in der Abwesenheit der USA dargestellt, wodurch die CR allmählich verringern 1. So ist vom Aussterben konditionierter Angst ein aktiver Prozess, bei dem ängstlichen Verhaltensreaktionen auf neutrale Reize gedämpft werden, wenn sie nicht mehr aversive Ergebnisse vorherzusagen. Extinction konditionierter Reaktionen erfordert Konsolidierung neuer Erinnerungen, die mit gelernt Verbände konkurrieren. Ein Markenzeichen von Angststörungen ist impaired Aussterben 2-4. Somit dient Extinktion konditionierter Furcht in Tiermodellen als wichtiges Paradigma sowohl inhibitorische Lernen und als Verhaltensmodell für die menschliche Therapie von Angststörungen 5,6. Da gibt es enge Korrespondenz zwischen Angst und menschliche Angst, wird angenommen, dass diese Studien können Einblick in die biologische Natur der Angst-Erkrankungen wie posttraumatische Belastungsstörung liefern und helfen, Strategien zu entwickeln, um sie zu behandeln. Ein wichtiges Ziel der präklinischen Forschung ist zum Aussterben Lernen zu unterstützen und um zielgerichtete Plastizität in Aussterben Schaltungen zu veranlassen, vom Aussterben Lernen zu festigen. Vagusnervstimulation (VNS) ist eine minimal-invasive neuroprothetischer Ansatz, der verwendet werden könnte, um enge zeitliche und Kreislauf-spezifische Modulation von Gehirnbereichen und Synapsen in fortlaufende Aufgabe beschäftigt ist. Eine Reihe von aktuellen Studien von Michael Kilgard Gruppe an der University of Texas at Dallas habengezeigt, dass die Paarung VNS mit diskreten sensorische oder motorische Reize (zB ein Ton oder ein Hebel ziehen) ist hoch wirksam bei der Förderung der kortikale Plastizität zur Behandlung von Tinnitus 7 oder motorische Defizite zu überwinden, nach Schlaganfall 8-10. Darüber hinaus Nicht-Kontingent VNS, die innerhalb eines kurzen Zeitfenster nach dem Lernen erfolgt in ähnlicher Weise fördert die kortikale Plastizität und verbessert die Gedächtniskonsolidierung bei Ratten und beim Menschen 11-13. In Anbetracht der Rolle des Vagus in der parasympathischen Weges, ist es nicht verwunderlich, dass es bei der Modulation der Erinnerungen und der synaptischen Plastizität zu beteiligen. Hoch emotionalen Ereignisse neigen dazu, stärker Erinnerungen als Nicht-emotionalen Erinnerungen zu produzieren. Dies ist durch den Einfluss von Stresshormonen auf die Gedächtniskonsolidierung wahrscheinlich. Posttraining Verwaltung des Stresshormons Adrenalin erhöht die Speicherkonsolidierung in menschlichen und nicht-menschlichen Tieren, aber Adrenalin nicht die Blut-Hirn-Schranke 14, 15 kreuzen </sup&gt;. Daher muss spannungsinduzierte Adrenalinausschüttung das Gehirn indirekt Einfluss auf die Gedächtniskonsolidierung zu verbessern. Starke Hinweise darauf, dass der Vagus kann die Verbindung zwischen zirkulierenden Adrenalin und dem Gehirn. Miyashita und Williams 16 festgestellt, dass die systemische Verabreichung von Adrenalin erhöht Vagusnerv Brennen, und erhöhte Noradrenalin in der Amygdala 17. Die systemische Verabreichung von Adrenalin nicht verbessern Gedächtniskonsolidierung, wenn β-adrenergen Rezeptoren in der Amygdala 18 was darauf hindeutet, dass der Vagus spielt eine Rolle bei der Bahn, die emotional erregende Erfahrungen verwandelt sich in Langzeitgedächtnis blockiert. So Paarung VNS mit Ausbildung hat das Potenzial, um die Veränderungen im Gehirn, die Gedächtniskonsolidierung und der Exposition gegenAnlage Cues unterstützt in der Abwesenheit von Verstärkung erhöht die Konsolidierung des Aussterbens Lernen bei Ratten 19,20 verbessern. Hier beschreiben wir die Verwendung von VNS asa-Tool, um kortikale Plastizität fördern und Erlöschen einer konditionierten Angstreaktion zu erleichtern.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
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			<td>Custom Micropipette Glass Tools (J shape and Straight) - Borosilicate glass</td>
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			<td>B150-110-10</td>
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			<td>Adson Forceps</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
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			<td></td>
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			<td>MRE-065</td>
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			<td>Platinum Iridium Wire</td>
			<td>Medwire</td>
			<td>10IR9/49T</td>
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			<td>Suture Thread</td>
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			<td>Fisher&#160;</td>
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			<td>Flux&#160;</td>
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			<td>Silastic Laboratory Tubing .51 mm ID x .94 mm OD</td>
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			<td></td>
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			<td>Headcap pieces (female)</td>
			<td>Omnetics Connector Corporation</td>
			<td>A24001-004</td>
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			<td>Teets Dental Acrylic, Liquid and Powder</td>
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			<td>26 Gauge Solid Copper Wire</td>
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			<td></td>
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			<td>1 ml syringes</td>
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			<td>14-826-261</td>
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			<td>22 G Needles</td>
			<td>Fisher&#160;</td>
			<td>14-815-525</td>
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		<tr>
			<td>27 G Needles</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>14-826-48</td>
			<td></td>
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		<tr>
			<td>2&#34; x 2&#34; Gauze</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>22-362-178</td>
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			<td>Swabs</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>19-120-472</td>
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			<td>Puppy Pads</td>
			<td>PetCo</td>
			<td>1310747</td>
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			<td>Kim Wipes</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>06-666-A</td>
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		<tr>
			<td></td>
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			<td></td>
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			<td colspan="2">Chamber and Behavioral Setting&#160;</td>
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			<td></td>
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		<tr>
			<td>Husky Metal Front Base Cabinet (30WX19DX34H)</td>
			<td>Home Depot</td>
			<td>100607961</td>
			<td></td>
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		<tr>
			<td>Quiet Barrier&#173; HD Soundproofing Material (Sheet) (PSA)</td>
			<td>soundproofcow.com</td>
			<td>10203041</td>
			<td></td>
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			<td>Convoluted Acoustic Foam Panel</td>
			<td>soundproofcow.com</td>
			<td>10432400</td>
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			<td>Isolated Pulse Stimulator Model 2100</td>
			<td>A-M Systems</td>
			<td>720000</td>
			<td></td>
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			<td>Digital Camera - Logitech Webcam C210</td>
			<td>Logitech</td>
			<td>B003LVZO88</td>
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			<td>MatLab</td>
			<td>Mathworks.com</td>
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			<td></td>
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			<td>Sinometer 10MHz Single Channel Oscilloscope</td>
			<td>Sinometer</td>
			<td>CQ5010C</td>
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			<td>OxyLED T-01 DIY Stick-on Anywhere 4-LED Touch Tap Light</td>
			<td>OXYLED</td>
			<td>B00GD8OKY0</td>
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		<tr>
			<td>5k ohm potentiomter</td>
			<td>Alpha Electronics</td>
			<td>B00CTWDHIO</td>
			<td></td>
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		<tr>
			<td>Extech 407730 40-to-130-Decibel Digital Sound Level Meter</td>
			<td>Extech Instruments</td>
			<td>B000EWY67W</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DSCK-C Dual Output, scrambled shocker</td>
			<td>Kinder Scientific Co</td>
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			<td></td>
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	</tbody>
</table>

vagus nerve stimulation as a tool to induce plasticity in pathways relevant for extinction learning

Extinction describes the process of attenuating behavioral responses to neutral stimuli when they no longer provide the reinforcement that has been maintaining the behavior. There is close correspondence between fear and human anxiety, and therefore studies of extinction learning might provide insight into the biological nature of anxiety-related disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, and they might help to develop strategies to treat them. Preclinical research aims to aid extinction learning and to induce targeted plasticity in extinction circuits to consolidate the newly formed memory. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a powerful approach that provides tight temporal and circuit-specific release of neurotransmitters, resulting in modulation of neuronal networks engaged in an ongoing task. VNS enhances memory consolidation in both rats and humans, and pairing VNS with exposure to conditioned cues enhances the consolidation of extinction learning in rats. Here, we provide a detailed protocol for the preparation of custom-made parts and the surgical procedures required for VNS in rats. Using this protocol we show how VNS can facilitate the extinction of conditioned fear responses in an auditory fear conditioning task. In addition, we provide evidence that VNS modulates synaptic plasticity in the pathway between the infralimbic (IL) medial prefrontal cortex and the basolateral complex of the amygdala (BLA), which is involved in the expression and modulation of extinction memory.

In diesem Abschnitt werden Beispiele für Ergebnisse, die durch die Verwendung VNS in Kombination mit vom Aussterben Lernen, um die Expression des konditionierten Angstreaktion in Ratten zu verringern gewonnen werden können. Für den Tagen 1 und 2 (Auditory Angst Anlage) wurden die Ratten auf einem Gehörfurchtkonditionierung Aufgabe, in der Fußschocks wurden mit einem Ton, gepaart geschult. Am Tag 3 (Pre-Behandlung Test), wurden Töne in der Abwesenheit von Fußschocks, um ein Einfrieren zu messen und zu schließen A...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Vagus Nerve Stimulation as a Tool to Induce Plasticity in Pathways Relevant for Extinction Learning at JoVE.com

Vagus Nerve Stimulation as a Tool to Induce Plasticity in Pathways Relevant for Extinction Learning

Vagusnervstimulation (VNS) hat sich als Instrument zur zielgerichteten synaptischen Plastizität im Vorderhirn zu veranlassen, eine Reihe von Verhaltensweisen ändern entstanden. Dieses Protokoll beschreibt, wie die Umsetzung VNS, um die Konsolidierung der Angst Aussterben Speicher zu erleichtern.

Vagusnervstimulation als Instrument zur Plastizität in Pathways Relevant für Extinction Learning herbei

Extinction describes the process of attenuating behavioral responses to neutral stimuli when they no longer provide the reinforcement that has been ...

vagus-nerve-stimulation-as-tool-to-induce-plasticity-pathways

Research

JoVE Journal

Behavior

23.2K Aufrufe.  The University of Texas at Dallas.  Vagusnervstimulation (VNS) hat sich als Instrument zur zielgerichteten synaptischen Plastizität im Vorderhirn zu veranlassen, eine Reihe von Verhaltensweisen ändern entstanden. Dieses Protokoll beschreibt, wie die Umsetzung VNS, um die Konsolidierung der Angst Aussterben Speicher zu erleichtern. 

Serie: Vagus Nerve Stimulation as a Tool to Induce Plasticity in Pathways Relevant for Extinction Learning

The Crossmodal Congruency Task as a Means to Obtain an Objective Behavioral Measure in the Rubber Hand Illusion Paradigm

The rubber hand illusion (RHI) is a popular experimental paradigm. Participants view touch on an artificial rubber hand while the participants' own hidden hand is touched. If the viewed and felt touches are given at the same time then this is sufficient to induce the compelling experience that the rubber hand is one's own hand. The RHI can be used to investigate exactly how the brain constructs distinct body representations for one's own body. Such representations are crucial for successful interactions with the external world. To obtain a subjective measure of the RHI, researchers typically ask participants to rate statements such as "I felt as if the rubber hand were my hand". Here we demonstrate how the crossmodal congruency task can be used to obtain an objective behavioral measure within this paradigm.
The variant of the crossmodal congruency task we employ involves the presentation of tactile targets and visual distractors. Targets and distractors are spatially congruent (i.e. same finger) on some trials and incongruent (i.e. different finger) on others. The difference in performance between incongruent and congruent trials - the crossmodal congruency effect (CCE) - indexes multisensory interactions. Importantly, the CCE is modulated both by viewing a hand as well as the synchrony of viewed and felt touch which are both crucial factors for the RHI.
The use of the crossmodal congruency task within the RHI paradigm has several advantages. It is a simple behavioral measure which can be repeated many times and which can be obtained during the illusion while participants view the artificial hand. Furthermore, this measure is not susceptible to observer and experimenter biases. The combination of the RHI paradigm with the crossmodal congruency task allows in particular for the investigation of multisensory processes which are critical for modulations of body representations as in the RHI.

We demonstrate how an objective measure can be employed in the widely employed rubber hand illusion paradigm. This measure is obtained by modifying the well-established crossmodal congruency task. This task allows the investigation of multisensory processes which are critical for modulations of body representations as in the rubber hand illusion.

Die Kongruenz Crossmodale Aufgabe als ein Mittel zum Ziel Behavioral Messen in der Rubber Hand Illusion Paradigm erhalten

The rubber hand illusion (RHI) is a popular experimental paradigm. Participants view touch on an artificial rubber hand while the participants' own hidden ...

Forschung

Verhalten

Uncovering Beat Deafness: Detecting Rhythm Disorders with Synchronized Finger Tapping and Perceptual Timing Tasks

A set of behavioral tasks for assessing perceptual and sensorimotor timing abilities in the general population (i.e., non-musicians) is presented here with the goal of uncovering rhythm disorders, such as beat deafness. Beat deafness is characterized by poor performance in perceiving durations in auditory rhythmic patterns or poor synchronization of movement with auditory rhythms (e.g., with musical beats). These tasks include the synchronization of finger tapping to the beat of simple and complex auditory stimuli and the detection of rhythmic irregularities (anisochrony detection task) embedded in the same stimuli. These tests, which are easy to administer, include an assessment of both perceptual and sensorimotor timing abilities under different conditions (e.g., beat rates and types of auditory material) and are based on the same auditory stimuli, ranging from a simple metronome to a complex musical excerpt. The analysis of synchronized tapping data is performed with circular statistics, which provide reliable measures of synchronization accuracy (e.g., the difference between the timing of the taps and the timing of the pacing stimuli) and consistency. Circular statistics on tapping data are particularly well-suited for detecting individual differences in the general population. Synchronized tapping and anisochrony detection are sensitive measures for identifying profiles of rhythm disorders and have been used with success to uncover cases of poor synchronization with spared perceptual timing. This systematic assessment of perceptual and sensorimotor timing can be extended to populations of patients with brain damage, neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Parkinson&#8217;s disease), and developmental disorders (e.g., Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).

Behavioral tasks that allow for the assessment of perceptual and sensorimotor timing abilities in the general population (i.e., non-musicians) are presented. Synchronization of finger tapping to the beat of an auditory stimuli and detecting rhythmic irregularities provides a means of uncovering rhythm disorders.

Aufdecken Schlag Taubheit: Entdecken Rhythmusstörungen mit Synchronized Finger Tapping und Wahrnehmungszeit Aufgaben

A set of behavioral tasks for assessing perceptual and sensorimotor timing abilities in the general population (i.e., non-musicians) is presented here ...

Protocol for Studying Extinction of Conditioned Fear in Naturally Cycling Female Rats

Extinction of conditioned fear has been extensively studied in male rodents. Recently, there have been an increasing number of studies indicating that neural mechanisms for certain behavioral tasks and response behaviors are different in females and males. Using females in research studies can represent a challenge because of the variation of gonadal hormones during their estrous cycle. This protocol describes well-established procedures that are useful in investigating the role of estrogen in fear extinction memory consolidation in female rats. Phase of the estrous cycle and exogenous estrogen administration prior to extinction training can influence extinction recall 24 hr later. The vaginal swabbing technique for estrous phase identification described here aids the examination and manipulation of naturally cycling gonadal hormones. The use of this basic rodent model may further delineate the mechanisms by which estrogen can modulate fear extinction memory in females.

Gonadal hormones such as estrogen modulate memory formation in a number of experimental paradigms including fear extinction memory. This protocol describes a set of methods for investigating the influence of gonadal hormones specifically during extinction in naturally cycling females, including estrous cycle monitoring and exogenous estrogen administration.

Protokoll zur Untersuchung Extinction konditionierter Furcht in natürlich Radfahren weiblichen Ratten

Extinction of conditioned fear has been extensively studied in male rodents. Recently, there have been an increasing number of studies indicating that ...

Quantifying Learning in Young Infants: Tracking Leg Actions During a Discovery-learning Task

Task-specific actions emerge from spontaneous movement during infancy. It has been proposed that task-specific actions emerge through a discovery-learning process. Here a method is described in which 3-4 month old infants learn a task by discovery and their leg movements are captured to quantify the learning process. This discovery-learning task uses an infant activated mobile that rotates and plays music based on specified leg action of infants. Supine infants activate the mobile by moving their feet vertically across a virtual threshold. This paradigm is unique in that as infants independently discover that their leg actions activate the mobile, the infants&#8217; leg movements are tracked using a motion capture system allowing for the quantification of the learning process. Specifically, learning is quantified in terms of the duration of mobile activation, the position variance of the end effectors (feet) that activate the mobile, changes in hip-knee coordination patterns, and changes in hip and knee muscle torque. This information describes infant exploration and exploitation at the interplay of person and environmental constraints that support task-specific action. Subsequent research using this method can investigate how specific impairments of different populations of infants at risk for movement disorders influence the discovery-learning process for task-specific action.

A method is described in which 3-4 month old infants learn a task by discovery and their leg movements are captured to quantify the learning process.

Quantifizierung Lernen bei jungen Säuglingen: Tracking-Leg Aktionen während eines Ermittlungs-Learning-Task-

Task-specific actions emerge from spontaneous movement during infancy. It has been proposed that task-specific actions emerge through a discovery-learning ...

A Treatment Package without Escape Extinction to Address Food Selectivity

Feeding difficulties and feeding disorders are a commonly occurring problem for young children, particularly children with developmental delays including autism. Behavior analytic interventions for the treatment of feeding difficulties oftentimes include escape extinction as a primary component of treatment. The use of escape extinction, while effective, may be problematic as it is also associated with the emergence of challenging behavior (e.g., extinction burst). Such challenging behavior may be an acceptable side effect in treatment cases where feeding problems are severe and chronic (e.g., failure to thrive). However, in more acute cases (e.g., selective eating), the negative side effect may be unwarranted and undesired. More recent research on the behavioral treatment of food selectivity has begun to evaluate treatments for feeding difficulties that do not include escape extinction (e.g., demand fading, behavioral momentum), with some success. However, research to date reveals individual differences in responsiveness to such treatments and no clear preferable treatment has emerged. This manuscript describes a multi-component treatment package that includes shaping, sequential presentation and simultaneous presentation, for the treatment of food selectivity in four young children with developmental delays. This treatment package extends the literature on the behavioral treatment for food selectivity and offers a multi-component treatment protocol that may be clinically applicable across a range of treatment scenarios and settings.

Feeding difficulties are a common problem for children with developmental disorders, including autism, and behavioral interventions often include escape extinction. Recent research has begun to evaluate treatments that do not include escape extinction. This manuscript describes a multicomponent treatment package that does not use escape extinction to treat feeding difficulties.

Eine Behandlung Package ohne Flucht Extinction zu Adresse Lebensmittel Selektivität

Feeding difficulties and feeding disorders are a commonly occurring problem for young children, particularly children with developmental delays including ...

Combined Shuttle-Box Training with Electrophysiological Cortex Recording and Stimulation as a Tool to Study Perception and Learning

Shuttle-box avoidance learning is a well-established method in behavioral neuroscience and experimental setups were traditionally custom-made; the necessary equipment is now available by several commercial companies. This protocol provides a detailed description of a two-way shuttle-box avoidance learning paradigm in rodents (here Mongolian gerbils; Meriones unguiculatus) in combination with site-specific electrical intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) and simultaneous chronical electrophysiological in vivo recordings. The detailed protocol is applicable to study multiple aspects of learning behavior and perception in different rodent species.
Site-specific ICMS of auditory cortical circuits as conditioned stimuli here is used as a tool to test the perceptual relevance of specific afferent, efferent and intracortical connections. Distinct activation patterns can be evoked by using different stimulation electrode arrays for local, layer-dependent ICMS or distant ICMS sites. Utilizing behavioral signal detection analysis it can be determined which stimulation strategy is most effective for eliciting a behaviorally detectable and salient signal. Further, parallel multichannel-recordings using different electrode designs (surface electrodes, depth electrodes, etc.) allow for investigating neuronal observables over the time course of such learning processes. It will be discussed how changes of the behavioral design can increase the cognitive complexity (e.g. detection, discrimination, reversal learning).

Shuttle-box avoidance learning is well-established in behavioral neuroscience. This protocol describes how shuttle-box learning in rodents can be combined with site-specific electrical intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) and simultaneous chronical in vivo recordings as a tool to study multiple aspects of learning and perception.

Kombinierte Shuttle-Box-Training mit Elektrophysiologische Cortex Ableitung und Stimulation als ein Instrument zur Wahrnehmung und Lernen Studie

Shuttle-box avoidance learning is a well-established method in behavioral neuroscience and experimental setups were traditionally custom-made; the ...

Using a Split-belt Treadmill to Evaluate Generalization of Human Locomotor Adaptation

Understanding the mechanisms underlying locomotor learning helps researchers and clinicians optimize gait retraining as part of motor rehabilitation. However, studying human locomotor learning can be challenging. During infancy and childhood, the neuromuscular system is quite immature, and it is unlikely that locomotor learning during early stages of development is governed by the same mechanisms as in adulthood. By the time humans reach maturity, they are so proficient at walking that it is difficult to come up with a sufficiently novel task to study de novo locomotor learning. The split-belt treadmill, which has two belts that can drive each leg at a different speed, enables the study of both short- (i.e., immediate) and long-term (i.e., over minutes-days; a form of motor learning) gait modifications in response to a novel change in the walking environment. Individuals can easily be screened for previous exposure to the split-belt treadmill, thus ensuring that all experimental participants have no (or equivalent) prior experience. This paper describes a typical split-belt treadmill adaptation protocol that incorporates testing methods to quantify locomotor learning and generalization of this learning to other walking contexts. A discussion of important considerations for designing split-belt treadmill experiments follows, including factors like treadmill belt speeds, rest breaks, and distractors. Additionally, potential but understudied confounding variables (e.g., arm movements, prior experience) are considered in the discussion.

We describe a protocol for investigating human locomotor adaptation using the split-belt treadmill, which has two belts that can drive each leg at a different speed. We specifically focus on a paradigm designed to test the generalization of adapted locomotor patterns to different walking contexts (e.g., gait speeds, walking environments).

Verwenden eine Split-Gürtel-Laufband zum Verallgemeinerung des menschlichen Bewegungsapparates Anpassung auswerten

Understanding the mechanisms underlying locomotor learning helps researchers and clinicians optimize gait retraining as part of motor rehabilitation. ...

Using a Virtual Store As a Research Tool to Investigate Consumer In-store Behavior

People&#39;s responses to products and/or choice environments are crucial to understanding in-store consumer behaviors. Currently, there are various approaches (e.g., surveys or laboratory settings) to study in-store behaviors, but the external validity of these is limited by their poor capability to resemble realistic choice environments. In addition, building a real store to meet experimental conditions while controlling for undesirable effects is costly and highly difficult. A virtual store developed by virtual reality techniques potentially transcends these limitations by offering the simulation of a 3D virtual store environment in a realistic, flexible, and cost-efficient way. In particular, a virtual store interactively allows consumers (participants) to experience and interact with objects in a tightly controlled yet realistic setting. This paper presents the key elements of using a desktop virtual store to study in-store consumer behavior. Descriptions of the protocol steps to: 1) build the experimental store, 2) prepare the data management program, 3) run the virtual store experiment, and 4) organize and export data from the data management program are presented. The virtual store enables participants to navigate through the store, choose a product from alternatives, and select or return products. Moreover, consumer-related shopping behaviors (e.g., shopping time, walking speed, and number and type of products examined and bought) can also be collected. The protocol is illustrated with an example of a store layout experiment showing that shelf length and shelf orientation influence shopping- and movement-related behaviors. This demonstrates that the use of a virtual store facilitates the study of consumer responses. The virtual store can be especially helpful when examining factors that are costly or difficult to change in real life (e.g., overall store layout), products that are not presently available in the market, and routinized behaviors in familiar environments.

This paper describes the use of a desktop virtual store to create virtual shopping environments to investigate in-store consumer behavior. A description of the protocol to build and run experiments, example results from an experiment concerning store layout, and important considerations when conducting virtual store experiments are presented.

Verwenden eines virtuellen Films als Forschungs-Tool zur Untersuchung des Konsumenten-In-Store-Verhaltens

People&#39;s responses to products and/or choice environments are crucial to understanding in-store consumer behaviors. Currently, there are various ...

Large Volume, Behaviorally-relevant Illumination for Optogenetics in Non-human Primates

This protocol describes a large-volume illuminator, which was developed for optogenetic manipulations in the non-human primate brain. The illuminator is a modified plastic optical fiber with etched tip, such that the light emitting surface area is &#62; 100x that of a conventional fiber. In addition to describing the construction of the large-volume illuminator, this protocol details the quality-control calibration used to ensure even light distribution. Further, this protocol describes techniques for inserting and removing the large volume illuminator. Both superficial and deep structures may be illuminated. This large volume illuminator does not need to be physically coupled to an electrode, and because the illuminator is made of plastic, not glass, it will simply bend in circumstances when traditional optical fibers would shatter. Because this illuminator delivers light over behaviorally-relevant tissue volumes (&#8776; 10 mm3) with no greater penetration damage than a conventional optical fiber, it facilitates behavioral studies using optogenetics in non-human primates.

A protocol to build a tissue penetrating illuminator for delivering light over large volumes with minimal diameter is presented.

Großes Volumen, verhaltensorientierte relevanten Beleuchtung für Optogenetik bei nichtmenschlichen Primaten

This protocol describes a large-volume illuminator, which was developed for optogenetic manipulations in the non-human primate brain. The illuminator is a ...

Applying an eMASS Customization Program as a Research Tool to Evaluate Consumer Benefits

As many scholars and practitioners study personalization and relationship marketing, it is important to provide personalization such as mass customization through marketing technology. The purpose of this study is to examine how to conduct consumer research using an online survey and analysis of data. This study examines consumers&#39;&#160;perceived benefits while customizing a product as well as emotional product attachment, attitudes toward a customization program, and loyalty intentions in the context of online retailing. In addition, this study investigates how consumer responses are different based on individual characteristics such as fashion innovativeness. An online survey company in South Korea recruited 290 female apparel shoppers who purchased apparel online. To enhance external validity, this study used an existing retail website with a well-established mass customization program. After completing the customization program, participants complete the online questionnaire. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and latent mean analyses (LMAs) are then performed for analyses. This study stresses the importance of testing measurement invariance for mean comparisons. Before the SEM and LMA, this study follows the hierarchy of invariance tests (configural invariance test, metric invariance test, and scalar invariance test), which are not considered by traditional approaches such as ANOVA. These statistical analyses provide applicability of the invariance test procedures and LMA to consumer behaviors. The conclusions of mean differences have integrity and validity because they are guided by a sophisticated statistical procedure to ensure measurement invariance.

Presented here is a protocol to examine consumer responses toward mass customization in the context of online retailing. The protocol details the online survey procedure and how to analyze data using structural equation modeling and group differences using latent mean analyses.

Anwenden eines eMASS-Anpassungsprogramms als Forschungstool zur Bewertung der Vorteile der Verbraucher

As many scholars and practitioners study personalization and relationship marketing, it is important to provide personalization such as mass customization ...