CN110301363A - A kind of animal cognition performance testing device and test method based on multi-modal stimulation - Google Patents

Abstract

A test device and test method for animal cognitive behavior based on multimodal stimulation, the device includes: a multi-arm maze, including a plurality of passages as arms of the maze, extending from the central area of the maze to different directions, wherein one or more The entrance of the passage is provided with a display screen and a sound source, and the end of the passage is closed; the camera device is located above the multi-arm maze, and is used to obtain images of animals in the multi-arm maze; the controller is connected with the multi-arm maze. The display screen, the sound source are connected to the camera device, and are used to control the image displayed on the display screen and the sound emitted by the sound source, and to record and count the image data obtained by the camera device. The invention can meet the requirements of more complex animal learning and memory experiments.

Description

A kind of animal cognitive behavior test device and test method based on multimodal stimulation

technical field

The invention belongs to the field of scientific research instruments used for animal behavior experiments, in particular to a device for testing animal cognitive behavior by giving multiple sensory stimuli (multimodal stimuli) and a method for testing animal cognitive behavior based on the device.

Background technique

Behavior is the final output of brain activity. Therefore, if you want to understand the performance of learning and memory in animals under the influence of drugs or brain damage, you need to observe their behavior in specific tasks. However, scientific experiments need to eliminate the influence of various irrelevant factors in the environment on behavior, and to quantify behavior, it is necessary to put animals into behavioral devices. Therefore, well-designed behavioral devices are often the key to whether related experiments can be carried out smoothly.

One type of ethological device currently used to test animal learning and memory is the multi-arm maze. The maze consists of six or eight arms of equal length that radiate outward from a central platform, often ending in food offerings. The spatial memory ability of experimental animals can be reflected by analyzing the feeding strategy of small animals (such as mice), that is, the number of times of entering each arm, time, correct times, wrong times, routes and other parameters.

CN103390193A introduces an automatic training device improved from the classic eight-arm maze. Its eight passages are all one-way passages, and there is an animal turning area at the end of each passage. An electrical stimulation backpack was fixed on the back of the rat, and the electrical stimulation backpack received instructions from the computer via Bluetooth. When the rats enter the passage, the camera above the maze will record and transmit the images to the computer, and the program will analyze and decide whether to give the rats electrical stimulation. In this way, automatic behavioral training of rats is realized.

CN202722231U discloses a more complicated eight-arm maze training device. Put bait at the end of some of these arms to reward animals entering the arm; And through sound, light, electricity and other stimulus-response modules to establish a complete variety of conditioned and unconditioned stimuli environments to train animals' memory ability for reward or punishment areas. Such multiple stimulation modes make the device have strong experimental functions.

However, the series of stimuli given by the training devices described above have limitations. Because the stimulation components are relatively simple, the stimulation mode is too single. The stimulation mode of the first patent mentioned above is only the strength of the current; the stimulation mode of the second patent is more, but it only stays on the presence or absence of food and the point sound source (speaker) and point light source (bulb). On and off, the intensity of electrical stimulation, the stimulation mode is monotonous and cannot be programmed to achieve its change. When the experimental animals choose one arm of the maze and are about to enter, the above two stimuli have no regular changes in space and time, and cannot be controlled by programs, so it is impossible to study the advanced cognitive functions of experimental animals. Therefore, in order to meet the needs of more complex animal learning and memory experiments, it is necessary to develop a new type of maze training device.

Contents of the invention

In view of this, the present invention proposes an animal cognitive behavior test device and test method based on multi-modal stimulation to meet the requirements of more complex animal learning and memory experiments.

In order to achieve the above object, on the one hand, the present invention proposes a kind of animal cognitive behavior testing device based on multimodal stimulation, comprising:

A multi-armed maze, comprising a plurality of passages as the arms of the maze, extending in different directions from the central area of the maze, wherein one or more entrances of the passages are provided with display screens and sound sources, and the ends of the passages are closed;

A camera device, located above the multi-arm maze, is used to acquire images of animals in the multi-arm maze;

A controller, connected to the display screen, the sound source and the camera device, is used to control the image displayed on the display screen and the sound emitted by the sound source, and to record and count the images obtained by the camera device data.

In some embodiments, the multi-arm maze has no less than 4 passages, preferably 6-8 passages.

In some embodiments, the animal cognitive behavior testing device also includes an integrated partition, the integrated partition is arranged at the entrance of the channel, and the display screen and the sound source are arranged on the integrated partition superior.

In some embodiments, the animal cognitive behavior testing device further includes a hollow casing, and the multi-armed maze is arranged in the hollow casing.

In some embodiments, a cover plate is arranged on the hollow casing, and the camera device is arranged under the cover plate.

In some embodiments, the display screen is a liquid crystal display screen or an LED display screen. Preferably, each display screen can independently display different images under the control of the controller.

In some embodiments, the sound source is a speaker or a buzzer. Preferably, the sound wave frequency, sound wave waveform and/or volume of each sound source can be changed independently under the control of the controller.

In some embodiments, the imaging device is a visible light imaging device or an infrared imaging device.

On the other hand, the present invention proposes a method for testing animal cognitive behavior utilizing the test device, comprising:

(1) Training stage: food is placed at the end of one of the maze arms in the multi-arm maze, different images are statically displayed on each display screen and different sounds are made from each sound source, and the animal is placed in the center of the multi-arm maze , when it explores the predetermined time or finds food, it is put back into the center of the multi-arm maze, and the training is repeated many times, preferably 3-5 times;

(2) Test stage: Under different image stimulation and/or sound stimulation than in the training stage, the animal is placed in the center of the multi-arm maze, the image data obtained by the camera device are recorded and counted, and the cognitive behavior of the animal is analyzed.

In some embodiments, the test phase includes placing the animal in the center of the multi-arm maze under the condition that the sound source is turned off or the sound sources exchange each other's sounds while the images displayed on the display screens remain unchanged, and the recording and statistics are performed. The image data obtained by the camera device is used to analyze the animal's short-term visual memory and visual positioning ability;

Under the condition that the display screen is turned off or the images of each display screen are exchanged with each other and the sound from each sound source remains unchanged, the animal is placed in the center of the multi-arm maze, the image data obtained by the camera device are recorded and counted, and the short-term analysis of the animal is performed. Auditory memory and auditory localization ability;

And/or under the condition that each sound source periodically exchanges each other's sounds and each display screen periodically exchanges each other's images, place the animal in the center of the multi-arm maze, record and count the image data obtained by the camera device, and analyze the animal's response to each other. Response to periodic stimuli.

In some embodiments, the method also includes an adaptation phase, comprising placing the animal in a multi-arm maze for a predetermined time, such as 20min-1h, preferably 30-40min.

In some embodiments, the animal is a rodent, cat, dog or monkey.

Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

The present invention uses a set of experimental devices to complete three types of experiments, namely, odor stimulation (smell of placed food), image stimulation and sound stimulation, respectively or simultaneously. And the given image is displayed on the display screen driven by the program, and the sound is also generated by the sound source driven by the program, so that these two kinds of stimuli can be designed by programming, and its mode can have a certain complexity, which can effectively affect animals such as mice. Advanced cognition and behavior in laboratory animals. And there are independently controlled stimulation modules on the integrated partition of each arm, which can further arrange and combine the stimulation in space to enrich the stimulation types.

The camera transmits the behavior tracking of small animals, and the automatically generated experimental data can be analyzed in real time to further control the image or sound stimulation to form a closed-loop operation; it can also be analyzed afterwards to count the types and duration of small animal behaviors.

The entire device realizes rich functions, high data precision, and can perform repeated behavioral quantitative analysis. The animal cognitive behavior test method based on this device can simultaneously and effectively evaluate the animal's response to visual and auditory short-term memory, spatial orientation, and response to complex and periodic stimuli. The performance of animals in learning and memory under the effects of drugs or brain damage.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1A is the top view of animal cognitive behavior testing device (not including cover plate) in the embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 1B is a 3D perspective view (viewed from the bottom) of the animal cognitive behavior testing device in the embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2A is the side of the partition facing the center of the maze in the embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2B is the side of the partition facing away from the center of the maze in the embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a schematic structural view (inner surface structure) of the cover plate in the embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is the circuit connection diagram of device in the embodiment of the present invention;

1. Hollow shell; 2. Labyrinth center; 3. Integrated partition; 4. Labyrinth arm; 5. Display screen; 6. Sound source; 7. Cover plate; 8. Cover plate gap; 9. Camera; 10. Cover plate Center hole; 11. Control module.

Detailed ways

In order to make the object, technical solution and advantages of the present invention clearer, the present invention will be further described in detail below in conjunction with specific embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Existing multi-arm maze training devices and similar animal experiment boxes have limitations in stimulation modes, that is, they cannot provide visual image patterns, auditory sound waveforms, and program-controlled stimuli when experimental animals perform corresponding behavioral tasks. In this regard, the invention creatively integrates a display screen, a sound source and a controller to produce a complex cognitive behavior test device for animals. Compared with other multi-armed maze improvement methods, such as printing the stimulus image on paper and then pasting it on the experimental device, which is a common animal behavior research method, the device of the present invention can change the stimulus pattern through programming instead of static display; and The whole process does not require manual operation of the experimental device by humans, avoiding the influence of human intervention. The device of the present invention can produce sufficiently rich stimulation, and can give arbitrary complex image sequences and its properties can be adjusted (contrast adjustment, Gaussian blur, etc.) on the image, can produce selected waveform stimulation and its parameters on the sound Adjust (frequency, etc.) to achieve the purpose of studying the complex behavioral cognition of small experimental animals.

The embodiment of the present invention provides a kind of animal cognitive behavior testing device based on complex, multi-modal dynamic stimulation, and this test box comprises four modules: experiment box body, stimulation module (comprising 1.8 inch small-sized liquid crystal sheet, small horn loudspeaker and Corresponding lines), recording module (camera) and control module (single-chip microcomputer or external computer).

The experimental box is shown in Figures 1A and 1B, which adopts the basic design style of a six-armed maze. The material of the labyrinth inside is ordinary aluminum alloy, which adopts an integrated design. Its material can also be other alloys or plastics. The style can be changed to a seven-armed or eight-armed labyrinth according to requirements. The diameter is 60cm, the arm length is 20cm, the arm width is 10cm, and the arm height is 8cm. Each of the six arms 4 of the labyrinth has a card slot at the end close to the center of the labyrinth 2, which can fix the integrated partition 3 with the stimulation module. The entire inner labyrinth is placed in the hollow cylindrical shell 1, and its material is an acrylic plate. There is the cover plate 7 that has camera 9 to cover then.

The hollow cylindrical shell 1, the integrated partition 3 and the cover plate 7 of the embodiment of the present invention are made of acrylic plates, and the central hole 10 of the cover plate on the integrated partition 3 and the cover plate 7 and the gap 8 of the cover plate are handed over to the factory to complete, such as Figure 3 shows. In the experiment, a six-arm maze was placed in the enclosure. Its material can also be other alloys or plastics. The cylindrical shell and cover plate can be changed to prismatic shell and polygonal cover plate according to the needs. When opaque materials such as alloys are selected, a light source can be set in the device to facilitate the camera to obtain images, or choose Infrared camera.

As shown in Figures 2A and 2B, the stimulation module is located on the integrated partition 3, and the display screen 5 (such as a 1.8-inch small LCD screen) on the front and the sound source 6 (such as a small horn speaker) on the back can give the small animal visual with sound stimulation. The signal wires of the two communicate with an external control module 11 (for example, a single-chip microcomputer or a computer) through a cover plate gap 8 around the cover plate 7 . The single-chip microcomputer or the computer adjusts the input signal through the signal line connected to the first two, all of which can be executed through the numbered program on the single-chip microcomputer, and can also be operated and set in real time through the computer program.

The 1.8-inch small liquid crystal screen of the embodiment of the present invention can be purchased in the market. In the experiment, a single-chip microcomputer or a computer driver is used to generate patterns. It can also be replaced with a small led screen.

The small horn speaker of the embodiment of the present invention can be purchased in the market. In the experiment, a single-chip microcomputer or a computer driver is used to generate a specific waveform sound. It can also be replaced by a buzzer.

The camera in the embodiment of the present invention can be a general visible light camera, and a USB Video Class camera based on the AC6102_V2 development board can be selected, which can be purchased in the market. Video data is recorded in the experiment and transmitted to a single-chip microcomputer or computer. It can also be replaced with an infrared camera.

The camera is fixed on the cover by glue, and its signal line is connected to the external single-chip microcomputer or computer through the central hole 10 of the cover, as shown in FIG. 4 . The image data in the experiment is transmitted to the external single-chip microcomputer or computer in real time.

The control module is an external single-chip microcomputer or computer. The single-chip microcomputer can use a general Raspberry Pi single-chip microcomputer, and it needs to be connected to a computer before the experiment, and it is programmed to set the running program. The corresponding control software is loaded on the computer. The control software can be applied to systems such as window, android, linux or ios that support driving such hardware.

The single-chip microcomputer of the embodiment of the present invention is a raspberry pie single-chip microcomputer, which can be purchased in the market. In the experiment, the LCD screen and speakers are driven, and the data of the camera is recorded. It can also be replaced with other brands of microcontrollers.

In order to make better use of the device, the present invention also proposes a new animal cognitive behavior test method, which can effectively evaluate the animal's short-term memory, spatial orientation and response to complex stimuli. And use other multi-arm maze training device or animal experiment box, then can't accomplish such detection.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the animal cognitive behavior test device is used as follows: at the beginning of the experiment, food rewards can be placed on the outward end of any maze arm; then the integrated partition can be placed according to its own needs , stuck in the card slot of the maze arm; the signal line is led out from the notch of the round cover and connected to the single-chip microcomputer or computer that already has a control program; then put a small animal, such as a mouse, in the center of the maze and close the cover. At this time, use a single-chip microcomputer or a program on a computer to control the LCD screen or the speaker on the partition to generate complex image or sound stimulation, and the stimulation on different partitions can be controlled independently. When the mouse has an exploration behavior or chooses to enter with one arm to take food, the video data is transmitted to the single-chip microcomputer or computer in real time through the camera, so that the program can judge whether to drive the LCD screen or the speaker on the control panel to change the stimulation mode, thereby affecting Mouse behavior and cognition. During the whole experiment, the mice were in a relatively closed box space to avoid interference from the external environment.

Based on this device, the animal cognitive behavior test method in some embodiments of the present invention comprises:

(1) Adaptation stage: Before the experiment, let the mice be placed in the device without any food and stimulation, and take them out after half an hour of exploration.

(2) Training phase: spread the food on one of the arms, and the mouse can only find it when it enters the end of the arm. Add static image stimuli at this time, such as displaying spheres, squares, cones and round rods on the LCD screen respectively. At the same time, let the four speakers emit sounds in different frequency bands, such as 10Hz, 30Hz, 50Hz, and 70Hz. The mouse was placed in the center of the maze, and when it explored for 1 minute or found food, it was put back in the center, and repeated three times.

(3) Testing phase, including one or more of the following tests:

1. When the mouse starts to explore from the center, the image data recorded by the camera drives the program to turn off the sound of the four speakers, or exchange the frequency of the sound between the speakers, and the image stimulus remains unchanged at this time. The computer or single-chip microcomputer records and counts according to the transmitted image data, and looks at the short-term visual memory and visual positioning of the mice;

2. When the mouse starts to explore from the center, the image data recorded by the camera drives the program to turn off the four LCD screen images, or the LCD screens exchange images with each other, and the sound stimulation remains unchanged at this time. The computer or single-chip microcomputer records and counts according to the image data transmitted back, and looks at the short-term auditory memory and auditory positioning of the mice;

3. When the mouse starts to explore from the center, the image data driver program recorded by the camera periodically changes the four LCD screen images (switching in the original image), or periodically changes the sound of the four speakers (switching in the original frequency ). The computer or single-chip microcomputer records and counts the transmitted image data to see how the mice respond to complex and periodic stimuli.

(4) End stage: Take out the experimental mice, copy out the data of the single-chip microcomputer or computer, clean up the device and return it to its original position. Finally, a series of data such as the number of times the mice entered different arms during the test phase and the time to explore food were obtained, and then analyzed according to the experimental requirements.

The present invention can be applied to small experimental animals (such as rodents) such as rats, mice, guinea pigs, etc., and can also be used to detect the behavior of large animals, such as cats, dogs, monkeys, etc., by scaling up in equal proportions.

The specific embodiments described above have further described the purpose, technical solutions and beneficial effects of the present invention in detail. It should be understood that the above descriptions are only specific embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. Within the spirit and principles of the present invention, any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc., shall be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims (10)

1. a kind of animal cognition performance testing device based on multi-modal stimulation, comprising:

Multi-arm labyrinth extends from labyrinth center to different directions including multiple channels as labyrinth arm, one of them or it is more The entrance in a channel is provided with display screen and sound source, the endcapped in the channel, it is preferable that the multi-arm labyrinth leads to Road is no less than 4, more preferably 6-8；

Photographic device, positioned at the top in the multi-arm labyrinth, for obtaining image of the animal in the multi-arm labyrinth；

Controller, is connected with the display screen, the sound source and the photographic device, the figure shown for controlling the display screen The sound that picture and the sound source issue, and record and count the image data that the photographic device obtains.

2. animal cognition performance testing device according to claim 1, wherein the animal cognition performance testing device is also Including integrating partition, the entrance in the channel is set, and the display screen and the sound source are arranged in institute on the integrated partition It states on integrated partition.

3. animal cognition performance testing device according to claim 1, wherein the animal cognition performance testing device is also Including hollow shell, the multi-arm labyrinth is arranged in the hollow shell, it is preferable that lid is provided on the hollow shell Plate, the photographic device are arranged below the cover board.

4. animal cognition performance testing device according to any one of claim 1-3, wherein the display screen is liquid crystal Display screen or LED display, it is preferable that each display screen can independently show different figures under the control of the controller Picture.

5. animal cognition performance testing device according to any one of claim 1-3, wherein the sound source is loudspeaker Or piezo, it is preferable that frequency of sound wave, acoustic waveform and/or the volume of each sound source can be under the controls of the controller solely On the spot change.

6. animal cognition performance testing device according to any one of claim 1-3, wherein the photographic device is can Light-exposed photographic device or infrared eye.

7. a kind of animal cognition performance testing method using test device described in any one of claim 1-6, comprising:

(1) training stage: in the end accommodating food of one of labyrinth arm in multi-arm labyrinth, the static status display on each display screen Different images simultaneously make each sound source issue different sound, and animal is placed on to the center in multi-arm labyrinth, explore and make a reservation for when it Time or after finding food, then it is placed back into the center in multi-arm labyrinth, repetition training is multiple, and preferably 3-5 times；

(2) under the image stimulation and/or sonic stimulation for being different from the training stage, animal test phase: is placed on multi-arm fan The center in palace records and counts the image data of photographic device acquisition, analyzing animal cognitive behavior.

8. animal cognition performance testing method according to claim 7, wherein the test phase is included in closing sound source Or each sound source exchanges mutual sound under conditions of image that each display screen is shown remains unchanged, and animal is placed on multi-arm The center in labyrinth records and counts the image data of photographic device acquisition, analyzing animal journey visual memory and vision positioning in short-term Ability；

Under conditions of closing display screen or each display screen exchange mutual image and the sound of each sound source sending remains unchanged, Animal is placed on to the center in multi-arm labyrinth, records and count the image data of photographic device acquisition, analyzing animal in short-term listen by journey Feel memory and auditory localization ability；

And/or the condition in the mutual sound of each sound source periodical exchange and each mutual image of display screen periodical exchange Under, animal is placed on to the center in multi-arm labyrinth, records and count the image data of photographic device acquisition, analyzing animal is to the period The reply situation of sexual stimulus.

9. animal cognition performance testing method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the method also includes the laundering period, It is included under conditions of no food, image stimulation and sonic stimulation, animal is placed in multi-arm labyrinth, explores it predetermined Time, such as 20min-1h, preferably 30-40min.

10. animal cognition performance testing method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the animal be rodent, Cat, dog or monkey.