Alzheimer research and the Morris water maze task
First developed in 1981 by Richard Morris, the Morris water maze task is still one of the most popular tests for memory and learning in rodents.
Towards automated homecage monitoring of group housed rats
Rodent social behavior is important in research on neuropsychiatric disorders, but major limitations hamper progress.
A new rat model for neonatal white matter injury
Preterm birth is a major problem in neonatal healthcare. Erik van Tilborg developed a new animal model to closely mimic this clinical situation, an important step in finding new treatment options.
Exercise vs anabolic steroids: a rat study
A recent study shows that the use of anabolic steroids diminishes the positive effects of exercise in rats.
Knockout of Down syndrome gene in zebrafish leads to autistic-like behaviors
Knockout of Down syndrome gene in zebrafish leads to autistic-like behaviors: Though earlier knockout models in mice failed, researchers have developed a successful zebrafish model.
Putative neurorestorative drug for Parkinson’s disease tested in zebrafish
About zebrafish and their important role in finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease.
Strain differences in zebrafish behavior and physiology
A zebrafish is not just a zebrafish. Strain differences in zebrafish behavior and physiology.
IR backlight in rodent behavioral testing
How do mice act in complete darkness? Ann-Kristina Fritz and her colleagues ordered a large, round open field with IR backlight, custom made by Noldus, to investigate.
Video tracking makes bird watching much easier
Everyone with children knows the phenomenon that what is good for a child is not always the best for a parent. The same counts for birds.
Ticking clocks – tides and activity peaks in American horseshoe crabs
Recently, I came across an interesting paper in which American horseshoe crabs were video-tracked to investigate their internal clocks.