A detection device and method for studying the self-control ability of rats

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of behavioral electrophysiology and behavioral imaging research in neuroscience, and in particular to a device and method for detecting the self-control ability of rats, comprising a training box, a speaker, a water supply system, and a detection and control circuit, wherein the training box is a square structure with a hollow top opening, and an operation hole and a start hole are respectively arranged in the middle of the front wall and the rear wall, a reward hole is arranged below the operation hole, and a feedback hole is arranged obliquely above the operation hole, the reward hole is connected to the water supply system, and the speaker is arranged on the outside of the training box; the steps include: experimental animal preparation; device detection; adaptation stage; consolidation stage; pre-experimental stage; reinforcement stage; experimental stage. The present invention has high adaptability and matching degree, and can simply realize the GO ‑ NO GO behavior training device and training method for rats while detecting the behavioral inhibition ability of rats, so as to meet the technology and research needs in the field of contemporary neuroscience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to research fields such as behavioral electrophysiology and behavioral imaging in neuroscience, and in particular to a detection device and method for studying the self-control ability of rats. Background Art

[0002] Whether in life or work, we are always facing changes in the environment. We need to constantly learn new knowledge, understand new things or abandon old behavioral habits. At this time, behavioral inhibition plays a key role. In addition, many studies have found that behavioral inhibition or lack of self-control ability can lead to normal social disorders in humans and even cause many mental illnesses. The GO-NO GO task has always been the main paradigm for studying behavioral inhibition. The execution of this task requires a high level of cognitive control process, which simply includes: stimulus discrimination, response selection and behavior execution. However, the cognitive level of rats is limited, and rats are indispensable research animals in the field of neuroscience research and even in most research fields. Letting rats successfully perform the GO-NO GO task is a gap in the study of behavioral inhibition. So far, various GO-NO GO tasks have been designed at home and abroad, including GO-NO GO tasks related to olfactory stimulation, auditory stimulation, taste stimulation, and GO-NO GO tasks with punishment mechanisms. There are still various limitations in these tasks, including inaccurate monitoring, complex design, long cycle, low target completion, low motivation to motivate rats to perform tasks, interference from punishment mechanisms, and a tendency to make rats passively start tasks. With the development of electrophysiological and imaging technologies in the field of neuroscience, the adaptability and matching between the design and application of the task has also increased. Summary of the invention

[0003] The purpose of the present invention is to improve the limitations of the existing GO-NO GO paradigm and provide a detection device and method for studying the self-control ability of rats. The device and method have high adaptability and matching degree, and can simply implement the GO-NO GO behavior training device and training method for rats while detecting the behavioral inhibition ability of rats, so as to meet the technology and research needs in the field of contemporary neuroscience.

[0004] In order to achieve the purpose of the present invention, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is:

[0005] The invention discloses a detection device for studying the self-control ability of rats, comprising a training box, a sound box, a water supply system and a detection and control circuit. The training box is a square structure with a hollow top and an opening, and an operation hole and a start hole are respectively arranged in the middle of the front wall and the rear wall. A reward hole is arranged below the operation hole, and a feedback hole is arranged obliquely above the operation hole. The reward hole is connected to the water supply system, and the sound box is arranged outside the training box.

[0006] The detection and control circuit includes a power supply, an infrared detection, an LED light, an analog circuit board and a data acquisition card. The infrared detection includes an infrared transceiver arranged on both sides of the start hole and the operation hole. The LED light is arranged on the feedback hole. The power supply is connected to the analog circuit board. The analog circuit board connects the infrared transceiver, the LED light, the water supply system and the data acquisition card. The data acquisition card is connected to a computer.

[0007] The height of the starting hole is higher than the height of the operating hole.

[0008] The water supply system includes a water storage bottle and a solenoid valve, one end of the solenoid valve is connected to the water storage bottle, and the other end is connected to the reward hole, and the solenoid valve is electrically connected to the analog circuit board.

[0009] A video surveillance camera is provided above the training box, and the video surveillance camera is connected to the computer.

[0010] The present invention discloses a method for detecting the self-control ability of rats, comprising the following steps:

[0011] Step 1: Experimental animal preparation: Before starting to train rats, the experimenter needs to prepare a sufficient number of rats and have sufficient contact with the rats to keep the rats in a stable state;

[0012] Step 2: Device testing: Before each training session, check whether the device can be used normally;

[0013] Step 3, adaptation stage: close the start hole 1, and let the rats explore freely in the training box 100; first learn the NO GO task, give the B sound appropriately, give water immediately after the B sound appears, and then gradually increase 500 ms until the appropriate time window; then learn the GO task, give the A sound, and let the rats explore freely without limiting the time. Once the rats probe their nose in the operating hole 3, they can immediately get water in the reward hole 5;

[0014] Step 4, consolidation stage: close the start hole 1, set a certain time window, after the manual start sound is issued, the rat chooses to probe the nose or not according to the sound A or B issued within this set time, and then checks whether it gets rewarded, which is regarded as one trial; in this stage, the rat must complete a certain number of consecutive GO or NO GO trials until the rat's operation accuracy rate reaches 85% for 2 consecutive days;

[0015] Step 5, pre-experimental stage: open start hole 1, let the rats explore freely, and find that sticking their noses in start hole 1 can trigger the sound, and then complete consecutive GO trials or NO GO trials until the rats' operation accuracy rate reaches 85% for 2 consecutive days;

[0016] Reinforcement stage: Open start hole 1, the computer will generate a series of pseudo-random sequences consisting of GO and NO GO, the rats will actively start the task, and then perform operations according to sound A or B; once GO-MISS or NO GO-ERROR appears, the rats will be required to jump out of this set of pseudo-random sequences and repeat the GO test or NO GO test until 3 to 5 consecutive GO tests or NOGO tests appear, and then return to the pseudo-random sequence to perform the task. The training goal is considered to be achieved when the rats' operation accuracy rate reaches 70% for 3 consecutive days;

[0017] Experimental phase: Open start hole 1, the computer will generate a series of pseudo-random sequences consisting of GO and NO GO, the rat will actively start the task, and then perform operations according to sound A or B, and the results will be recorded.

[0018] In step one, making the rats in a stable state means controlling water supply 24 hours in advance while maintaining sufficient food for the rats. After the training begins, theoretically, the rats' water source comes from the drinking water during the training process. If the rats are in poor condition, additional water can be given. The rats' weight is monitored and their state is observed every day. During the water control period, the weight cannot be lower than 85% of the weight at the beginning of training.

[0019] The beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0020] (1) The training device of the present invention avoids skill learning errors, reduces interference from external factors, is more suitable for the characteristics of rats and can more accurately express the GO-NO GO task, thereby detecting the self-control ability of rats, and can also automatically realize multiple continuous training, data collection, and video monitoring functions;

[0021] (2) The training method of the present invention is more efficient, reducing the learning cycle to 7 days;

[0022] (3) The training method of the present invention utilizes the exploratory habits of rats and their sensitive hearing, making it easier for rats to understand the purpose of training, thereby improving the success rate of the rats' learning tasks;

[0023] (4) The training method of the present invention is combined with an automated training device, which reduces interference from external factors and reduces system errors and human errors;

[0024] (5) The training method of the present invention is combined with an automated training device to achieve automatic data collection and reduce manual labor. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention.

[0026] In the figure, 100 is a training box, 1 is a start hole, 2 is a speaker, 3 is an operation hole, 4 is a feedback hole, 5 is a reward hole, 6 is a solenoid valve, 7 is a water storage bottle, 8 is an analog circuit board, 9 is a computer, and 10 is a video monitoring system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The present invention is further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments:

[0028] See also Figure 1 .

[0029] The present invention discloses a detection device for studying the self-control ability of rats, comprising a training box 100, a sound box 2, a water supply system and a detection and control circuit. The training box 100 is a square structure with a hollow top opening, and an operation hole 3 and a start hole 1 are respectively arranged in the middle of the front wall and the rear wall thereof, a reward hole 5 is arranged below the operation hole 3, and a feedback hole 4 is arranged obliquely above the operation hole 3, the reward hole 5 is connected to the water supply system, and the sound box 2 is arranged on the outside of the training box 100; in this embodiment, the length, width and height of the training box 100 are 30 cm, 30 cm and 40 cm, the start hole 1 is 15 cm high, the operation hole 3 is 10 cm high, the reward hole 5, i.e., the drinking point, is located 8 cm below the operation hole 3, and the feedback hole 4 is located 3 cm obliquely above the operation hole 3.

[0030] The detection and control circuit includes a power supply, an infrared detection, an LED light, an analog circuit board 8 and a data acquisition card. The infrared detection includes an infrared transceiver arranged on both sides of the start hole 1 and the operation hole 3. The LED light is arranged on the feedback hole 4. The power supply is connected to the analog circuit board 8. The analog circuit board 8 connects the infrared transceiver, the LED light, the water supply system and the data acquisition card. The data acquisition card is connected to the computer 9.

[0031] The height of the start hole 1 is higher than that of the operation hole 3, so that the rat can start the task better.

[0032] The water supply system includes a water storage bottle 7 and a solenoid valve 6, one end of the solenoid valve 6 is connected to the water storage bottle 7, and the other end is connected to the reward hole 5, and the solenoid valve 6 is electrically connected to the analog circuit board 8.

[0033] A video surveillance system 10 is provided above the training box 100 , and the video surveillance system 10 is connected to the computer 9 .

[0034] Our team strives to combine technology with the characteristics of rats, and invent a device with high adaptability and matching degree, which can easily realize the GO-NO GO behavior training of rats and the training method, and detect the behavioral inhibition ability of rats. Our training device sets the start hole, operation hole, reward hole, and feedback hole of corresponding height according to the height, height and field of vision of rats. Two different sounds are selected as stimuli according to the sensitivity of rats' hearing; in order to mobilize the motivation of rats, rats need to restart the task again after each GO or NO GO trial. Our training ideas are mainly divided into four processes: 1. Establish the connection between sound, operation and result: regardless of the active start and time limit of rats, first let the rats know that sound A indicates that the result of probing the nose can get water; sound B does not require probing the nose to get water. After the initial sound appears, the result should be given immediately, which is easy for rats to understand. 2. Establish the connection between start and sound: After the rats understand that different sounds AB require different operations to get rewards, let the rats explore how to make the sound appear, that is, start, so that the rats are familiar with the operation process of the experiment. 3. Familiar with the difference and operation of GO and NO GO tasks. 4. Formal experiment. After repeated verification, the period of learning GO-NO GO task of rats was shortened, the goal was clear, and the completion rate was high.

[0035] The present invention discloses a method for detecting the self-control ability of rats, comprising the following steps:

[0036] Step 1: Experimental animal preparation: Before starting to train rats, the experimenter needs to prepare a sufficient number of rats and have sufficient contact with the rats to keep the rats in a stable state;

[0037] Step 2: Device testing: Before each training session, check whether the device can be used normally;

[0038] Step 3, adaptation stage: close the start hole 1, and let the rats explore freely in the training box 100; first learn the NO GO task, give the B sound appropriately, and give water immediately after the B sound appears, and then gradually increase by 500 ms until the appropriate time window; then learn the GO task, give the A sound, and let the rats explore freely without limiting the time. Once the rats probe their nose in the operating hole 3, they can immediately get water in the reward hole (5);

[0039] Step 4, consolidation stage: close the start hole 1, set a certain time window, after the manual start sound is issued, the rat chooses to probe the nose or not according to the sound A or B issued within this set time, and then checks whether it gets rewarded, which is regarded as one trial; in this stage, the rat must complete a certain number of consecutive GO or NO GO trials until the rat's operation accuracy rate reaches 85% for 2 consecutive days;

[0040] Step 5, pre-experimental stage: open start hole 1, let the rats explore freely, and find that sticking their noses in start hole 1 can trigger the sound, and then complete consecutive GO trials or NO GO trials until the rats' operation accuracy rate reaches 85% for 2 consecutive days;

[0041] Reinforcement stage: Open start hole 1, the computer will generate a series of pseudo-random sequences consisting of GO and NO GO, the rats will actively start the task, and then perform operations according to sound A or B; once GO-MISS or NO GO-ERROR appears, the rats will be required to jump out of this set of pseudo-random sequences and repeat the GO test or NO GO test until 3 to 5 consecutive GO tests or NOGO tests appear, and then return to the pseudo-random sequence to perform the task. The training goal is considered to be achieved when the rats' operation accuracy rate reaches 70% for 3 consecutive days;

[0042] Experimental phase: Open start hole 1, the computer will generate a series of pseudo-random sequences consisting of GO and NO GO, the rat will actively start the task, and then perform operations according to sound A or B, and the results will be recorded.

[0043] In step one, making the rats in a stable state means controlling water supply 24 hours in advance while maintaining sufficient food for the rats. After the training begins, theoretically, the rats' water source comes from the drinking water during the training process. If the rats are in poor condition, additional water can be given. The rats' weight is monitored and their state is observed every day. During the water control period, the weight cannot be lower than 85% of the weight at the beginning of training.

[0044] The rat actively goes to the start hole 1 to start the task, and then the speaker 2 will emit two sounds, A or B. Sound A means that the rat goes to the operation hole 3 to poke its nose within the specified time, and water will appear from the reward hole (5) as a reward, which is recorded as GO. If the rat does not poke its nose during this period, the LED light of the feedback hole 4 will light up as an error feedback, which is recorded as GO-MISS. Sound B means that the rat cannot poke its nose within the same specified time, and a reward will appear, which is recorded as NO GO. If the rat goes to the operation hole 3 to poke its nose during this period, the LED light of the feedback hole 4 will light up and the rat will lose the opportunity to get a reward, which is recorded as NO GO-ERROR.

[0045] The above descriptions are merely embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent transformations made using the contents of the present invention's specification and drawings or directly or indirectly applied in related technical fields are also included in the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for detecting the self-control ability of rats, comprising a detection device, the detection device comprising a training box (100), a sound box (2), a water supply system and a detection and control circuit, the training box (100) being a square structure with a hollow top opening, an operation hole (3) and a start hole (1) being respectively arranged in the middle of the front wall and the rear wall thereof, a reward hole (5) being arranged below the operation hole (3), and a feedback hole (4) being arranged obliquely above the operation hole (3), the reward hole (5) being connected to the water supply system, the sound box (2) being arranged outside the training box (100); the detection and control circuit comprising a power supply, an infrared detector, an LED light, an analog circuit board (8) and a data acquisition card, the infrared detector comprising a control unit arranged at the start hole (1 ) and infrared transceivers on both sides of the operation hole (3), the LED light is arranged on the feedback hole (4), the power supply is connected to the analog circuit board (8), the analog circuit board (8) connects the infrared transceiver, the LED light, the water supply system and the data acquisition card, and the data acquisition card is connected to the computer (9); the height of the start hole (1) is higher than the height of the operation hole (3); the water supply system includes a water storage bottle (7) and a solenoid valve (6), one end of the solenoid valve (6) is connected to the water storage bottle (7), and the other end is connected to the reward hole (5), and the solenoid valve (6) is electrically connected to the analog circuit board (8); a video monitoring (10) is provided above the training box (100), characterized in that: The following steps are included: Step 1: Experimental animal preparation: Before starting to train rats, the experimenter needs to prepare a sufficient number of rats and have sufficient contact with the rats to keep the rats in a stable state; Step 2: Device testing: Before each training session, check whether the device can be used normally; Step 3, adaptation stage: close the start hole (1), and let the rats explore freely in the training box (100); first learn the NO GO task, give the B sound appropriately, and give water immediately after the B sound appears, and then gradually increase the time by 500 ms until the appropriate time window; then learn the GO task, give the A sound, and let the rats explore freely without limiting the time. Once the rats stick their noses in the operating hole (3), they can immediately get water in the reward hole (5); Step 4, consolidation stage: close the start hole (1), set a certain time window, and after the manual start sound is issued, the rat chooses to probe the nose or not within the set time according to the sound A or B issued, and then checks whether it is rewarded, which is regarded as one trial; in this stage, the rat must complete a certain number of consecutive GO or NO GO trials until the rat's operation accuracy rate reaches 85% for 2 consecutive days; Step 5, pre-experimental stage: open the start hole (1), let the rat explore freely, and find that sticking its nose into the start hole (1) can trigger the sound, and then complete consecutive GO trials or NO GO trials until the rat's operation accuracy rate reaches 85% for 2 consecutive days; Reinforcement stage: Open the start hole (1), the computer will generate a series of pseudo-random sequences consisting of GO and NO GO, the rat will actively start the task, and then perform the operation according to the A or B sound; once GO-MISS or NO GO-ERROR appears, the rat will be required to jump out of this set of pseudo-random sequences and repeat the GO test or NO GO test until 3 to 5 consecutive GO tests or NO GO tests appear, and then return to the pseudo-random sequence to perform the task. If the rat's operation accuracy rate reaches 70% for 3 consecutive days, the training goal is considered to be achieved; Experimental phase: Open the start hole (1), the computer will generate a series of pseudo-random sequences consisting of GO and NO GO, the rat will actively start the task, and then perform operations according to the A or B sound, and the results will be recorded.

2. A method for detecting the self-control ability of rats according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step one, the rats are kept in a stable state by controlling their water supply 24 hours in advance while maintaining sufficient food. After the training begins, theoretically, the rats' water source comes from the drinking water during the training process. If the rats are not in good condition, additional water is given. The rats' weight is monitored and their condition is observed every day. During the water control period, their weight cannot be lower than 85% of their weight at the beginning of training.

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