Protocol for Measuring Free (Low-stress) Exploration in Rats

Abstract

Research on exploratory behavior plays a key part in behavioral science. Studying exploratory behavior of laboratory rodents may provide important data about many developmental and neurobiological processes occurring in animal ontogenesis. The proposed protocol for measuring the free (low-stress) exploration behavior in rats is straightforward, requires minimal resources and very little animal training. It can therefore be broadly applied to studying animal cognition, animal behavior in general, the aging processes, and several animal models of various phenomena.

Keywords: Exploratory activity; Free exploration paradigm; Habituation; Laboratory rodents; Response to novelty.