In a standard PhenoMAP™ experiment animals are followed for six days, to distinguish novelty from baseline behavior, since habituation to the cage requires several days. Our test protocols take into account that several motivational systems are activated simultaneously or in succession.

The animal’s position and behavior are measured continuously, many times per second, 24 hours/day, during multiple days. The software computes a large number of parameters, including entries and time spent in specific zones, distance moved, velocity, track angularity, and a number of specific parameters for specific tasks within the experiment. Data are summarized over time bins and spatial zones, resulting in more than 32.000 end points for each animal. Even a relatively simple experiment will result in large data sets, allowing the detection of novel effects or side-effects of treatments. The software incorporates advanced algorithms for the analysis of high-content behavioral data, a prerequisite for high-resolution phenotypic discrimination in the massive data streams resulting from automated longitudinal observations.
 

Photo by: Annemarie Baars

Behavior is a sequential series of events. Its meaning resides in the programming of this sequential order. Since we have the continuous flow of behavioral elements in relation to time, the sequential ordering can be described in numerical and graphical ways (transition matrices, pathway diagrams) and repetitive patterns of similar events with structured time intervals can be revealed. PhenoMAP data can be analyzed with our special software tools for lag sequential and t-pattern analysis.

As behavior is the result of complex interactions between various motivational systems and physiological states (e.g. arousal), it cannot be easily studied in separate narrowly focused tests without loosing the interaction effects. With PhenoMAP it becomes possible to conclude whether a behavioral change is, for instance, due to a differential and combined contribution of exploration, anxiety, cognition or an altered circadian rhythm.