![Gonny Smit](https://www.noldus.com/user-image/users/a3907fe6eea5ff13e389a2976022b0c3.jpg)
Gonny Smit
As a Marketing Communication Specialist, I get to read, write, and learn a lot about behavioral neuroscience. I spend my days creating anything from videos and blog posts to website and leaflet content. Outside of the office, I love spending time with my horse, working out, and traveling.
![How obese mice get moving how-obese-mice-get-moving](https://www.noldus.com/static/images/core-blog/how-obese-mice-get-moving.jpg)
How obese mice get moving
By a showing of hands: how many of you started this New Year with the resolution to get moving? Burn off those extra holiday calories, or finally really get in shape?
![How optogenetics is used to study the stress response in zebrafish larvae optogenetics-stress-response-zebrafish-larvae](https://www.noldus.com/static/images/core-blog/optogenetics-stress-response-zebrafish-larvae.jpg)
How optogenetics is used to study the stress response in zebrafish larvae
Stress might seem like a bad word, but it does have its perks. A recent study by Rodrigo J. De Marco uncovered the role of the pituitary in zebrafish larvae behavior after the onset of stress.
![Autistic mice have motor learning difficulties specific to the cerebellum autistic-mice-cerebellum](https://www.noldus.com/static/images/core-blog/autistic-mice-cerebellum.jpg)
Autistic mice have motor learning difficulties specific to the cerebellum
Autism is often associated with social behavior deficits and repetitive behaviors. However, motor abnormalities are also a part of the behavioral spectrum. Recent studies have implicated the cerebellum.
![Discrimination learning without human intervention or food restriction discrimination-learning-cognitionwall](https://www.noldus.com/static/images/core-blog/discrimination-learning-cognitionwall.jpg)
Discrimination learning without human intervention or food restriction
Sylics recently introduced CognitionWall, a new paradigm for discrimination learning in the home cage that avoids the necessity for food restriction and handling in learning tests.
![The power of rejection (in fruit flies) the-power-of-rejection](https://www.noldus.com/static/images/core-blog/the-power-of-rejection.jpg)
The power of rejection (in fruit flies)
Fruit flies have amazing sense of smell. This includes the ability to navigate to a food source, as well as search out a preferred mate. However, there are other areas in which their olfactory systems come into play.
![The use of video tracking in a HaXha test video-tracking-haxha-test](https://www.noldus.com/static/images/core-blog/video-tracking-haxha-test.jpg)
The use of video tracking in a HaXha test
When you get used to something, after a while you might not notice it anymore. Like a sent. The lab of Justus Verhagen investigated sniffing behavior with video tracking.
![How fruit flies find your food (and mates!) how-fruit-flies-find-your-food](https://www.noldus.com/static/images/core-blog/how-fruit-flies-find-your-food.jpg)
How fruit flies find your food (and mates!)
Those tiny flies that take over your garbage cans during the summer? They are called fruit flies for a reason! They have a fantastic sense of smell and these tiny creatures are a popular animal model for researchers.
![How sleep heals the brain how-sleep-heals-the-brain](https://www.noldus.com/static/images/core-blog/how-sleep-heals-the-brain.jpg)
How sleep heals the brain
We sleep a large portion of our lives. And now researchers have proven that it can heal the brain.
![How to capture the 3D swimming patterns of fish how-to-capture-the-3d-swimming-patterns-of-fish](https://www.noldus.com/static/images/core-blog/how-to-capture-the-3d-swimming-patterns-of-fish-1581603680.jpg)
How to capture the 3D swimming patterns of fish
Zebrafish have more in common with humans than meets the eye. This is why they have become a “go-to” model in neuroscience research. But one difference remains: we walk and they swim.
![A new fish on the block: Japanese medaka in toxicology studies japanese-medaka-toxicology](https://www.noldus.com/static/images/core-blog/japanese-medaka-toxicology-1571993668.jpg)
A new fish on the block: Japanese medaka in toxicology studies
We are all very familiar with zebrafish as a model species in neuroscience research. Today, let's talk about another fish, the Japanese medaka.