Rats and mice share common ethologically relevant parameters of exploratory behavior

Behav Brain Res. 2001 Nov 1;125(1-2):133-40. doi: 10.1016/s0166-4328(01)00290-x.

Abstract

Detailed studies of rat exploratory behavior reveal that it consists of typical behavior patterns having a distinct structure. Recently we have developed interactive software that uses as input the automatically digitized time-series of the animal's location for the visualization, analysis, capturing and quantification of these patterns. We use this software here for the study of BALB/cJtau mouse behavior. The results suggest that a considerable number of rat patterns are also present in the mouse. These ethologically-relevant patterns have a significant potential as a phenotyping tool.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Animals
  • Ethology*
  • Exploratory Behavior / physiology*
  • Male
  • Mathematical Computing
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C / genetics
  • Motor Activity / physiology
  • Normal Distribution
  • Phenotype*
  • Rats
  • Software
  • Species Specificity
  • Video Recording