About our services
The Behavior Core offers a variety of models and measures commonly used in the research setting including general behavioral phenotyping, neurobehavioral tests, and in vivo drug screening.
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If there is a model or measure you are interested in but don’t see here email us at behaviorcore@une.edu.
Models
The core offers cutting edge, validated and well characterized models commonly used in basic science research. These models are used to gain mechanistic insights to clinically relevant questions and for in vivo screening in drug development.
- Nociception (Acute and chronic models)
- Learning and Memory
- Neurocognitive Functioning
- Anxiety and Depression
- Addiction
- Pharmacokinetic Dosing and Collection
Measures
Assays commonly used as behavioral readouts for basic science research.
Evoked/Acute Pain Measures
- von Frey Test (punctate tactile hypersensitivity)
A non-noxious punctate tactile stimulus is applied to the desired test area. The threshold to evoke a withdrawal response is quantified. - Brush Test (dynamic tactile hypersensitivity)
A non-noxious dynamic brushing tactile stimulus is applied to the desired test area. The evoked reaction is rated. - Randall Selitto Test (pressure hypersensitivity)
A blunt pressure stimulus is applied to the test area. The threshold to evoke a response is quantified. - Pincher Test (pressure hypersensitivity)
A blunt pressure stimulus is applied to the test area. The threshold to evoke a response is quantified. - Pressure Application Management (P.A.M.) (joint hypersensitivity)
A blunt pressure stimulus is applied to the test area. The threshold to evoke a response is quantified. - Static Weight Bearing (joint hypersensitivity)
Measurement of shifts in weight between the hindlimbs. - Hargreaves Test (heat hypersensitivity)
A heat stimulus is applied to the test area through a glass plate. The latency to evoke a withdrawal response is quantified. - Tail-flick Test (heat hypersensitivity)
The test area is immersed in the pre-heated bath. The latency to evoke a withdrawal response is quantified. - Dry Ice Test (cold hypersensitivity)
Dry ice is applied to the test area through a glass plate. The latency to evoke a withdrawal response is quantified. - Hot/Cold Plate (thermal hypersensitivity)
A hot or cold plate used to measure changes in thermal sensitivity. Subjects are placed on the pre-heated or pre-cooled metal plate and the latency to evoke a response is measured. - Grip Strength
This test can be used to measure forepaw and/or hindpaw muscular strength, as well as hypersensitivity to axial stretch.
Motivation/Cognitive Measures
- Conditioned Place Preference (CPP)
This test is used to measure the motivational effects of reinforcing experiences. - Addiction potential
Drugs that are rewarding (e.g. cocaine, heroin) produce conditioned place preference for a novel context - Antinociceptive potential
Drugs that alleviate persistent pain (e.g. neuropathic pain) produce conditioned place preference for a novel context - Conditioned Place Avoidance (CPA)
This is used to measure the motivational effects of aversive experience: - Drugs or experiences that are aversive (e.g. loud noise, noxious events) produce conditioned place aversion for a novel context.
- Conflict Avoidance Measure (Coy Mechanical Conflict-Avoidance System)
Used to assess diminished motivation to cross a textured floor to a preferred dark space.