The discussion with you about how to design the experiment and what to look for is a key element of how we work with our customers. There are two main scenarios for the setup of your experiment:

You have a specific question regarding a well-known behavioral effect related to a typical psychopathology as studied in a given animal model. The question then is: how to implement your research question in a PhenoTyper study as well as possible? We can test your animal model (lesioned animal or mutant) as you use it, in our set up. We will then monitor your animal in expected relevant time windows and focus on the expected behavioral changes. Animals can be treated with drugs, etc., at specific time points. Since you have a specific research question in mind, the protocol will be especially adapted to your needs.

You have a question with a wider scope, e.g. a new animal model or a mutant which is not fully known in terms of behavioral characteristics. The question then can be: how can we detect relevant behaviors and unexpected (side-)effects as comprehensively as possible? In this case a wide-spectrum analysis of behavior can be applied.

The length of the observation time, stimuli to be presented in the PhenoTyper cages, and parameters of interest to be measured are discussed with you. Behavior is monitored continuously over days, as long as your research requires. Behavior can be observed and manipulated before the animal is adjusted to the PhenoTyper environment (i.e. within the first days) or after the animal has become familiar in the cage (i.e. after several days). Notwithstanding the focus of the study, we always measure a wide range of activity parameters and distinguish novelty-related reactions from baseline behavior. And since there is no long publication history of such data sets, there is always the possibility to find something new. Therefore, we always analyze exploratory activity in different zones of the cage. Our PhenoTper setups includes flexible software and programmable stimuli (light, sound, food dispenser, etc.) allowing various protocols for learning and anxiety. Thus, the final protocol is the result of an interaction between customer and Delta Phenomics.