Automating Behavioral Tests: Advances and Perspectives

Satellite symposium during Neuroscience 2005

Identifying a phenotype among thousands of mutants produced by modern mutagenesis programs, assessing the role of genetic and environmental factors on brain function, or discovering a successful new CNS drug among numerous candidate compounds requires sensitive behavioral research tools with a maximum throughput. At this symposium, renowned speakers from diverse areas discussed advances in behavioral testing made possible by novel research instruments. Each presentation addressed a specific technique, including the current state of the art and perspectives for future development. Special attention was paid to innovation in video image processing and the integration of behavioral and physiological data. The symposium was welcomed and introduced by Dr. Lucas Noldus, and ended with a lively discussion about the future of behavioral test automation. Judging by the number of participants, the symposium proved to be very successful.

Presentations

• Using EthoVision for studying object recognition in mice Jacob Raber, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
• Behavior-dependent pharmaco-electroencephalographic (pEEG) characterization of psychoactive drugsPim Drinkenburg, Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Beerse, Belgium
• Simultaneous recording of behavioral and physiological data in ratsBart Ellenbroek, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands