Animal behavior experiment device and method

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of experimental apparatus technology, providing an animal behavior experimental apparatus and method. A box is mounted on a base, and multiple feeding ports are arranged sequentially along the circumference of the box on its outer side. A mounting plate is mounted on the base below the box, and the stimulus source and feeding component are mounted on the top surface of the mounting plate. An image acquisition device is used to acquire images of the inside of the box, including the animal and the stimulus source. A drive assembly is mounted on the base, and the feeding component, image acquisition device, and drive assembly are all electrically connected to a control mainboard. The mounting plate is connected to the drive assembly. The control mainboard controls the drive assembly to rotate relative to the box and the mounting plate, aligning the stimulus source and feeding component with any of the multiple feeding ports. The feeding component is then inserted into the feeding port based on the image. This allows for flexible adjustment of the stimulus source and feeding position, and real-time monitoring and analysis of the experimental animal's behavioral patterns.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of experimental apparatus technology, and in particular to an experimental apparatus and method for animal behavior. Background Technology

[0002] Animal behavior experiments, as a scientific research method, focus on observing, measuring, and analyzing the behavioral characteristics of animals. In this field, researchers strive to create specific experimental environments and tasks to induce and observe behavioral responses in animals under specific conditions. Traditionally, these carefully designed experimental conditions and tasks largely rely on manual manipulation by researchers. This means that, to conduct such experiments, researchers need to manually set up experimental scenarios, adjust parameters, and manually guide or trigger experimental tasks to accurately record and analyze animal behavioral patterns. While this method is effective, it poses certain challenges to the accuracy, reproducibility, and efficiency of large-scale experiments. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention provides an animal behavior experiment apparatus and method to solve the problem that the accuracy, repeatability and efficiency of experiments in existing manual animal behavior experiments are difficult to meet the experimental requirements.

[0004] This invention provides an animal behavior experimental device, comprising: a base, a box, a mounting plate, a stimulus source, a feeding component, an image acquisition device, a driving component, and a control motherboard; The enclosure is mounted on the base, and multiple feeding ports are provided on the outer side of the enclosure, arranged sequentially along the circumferential direction of the enclosure. A mounting plate is mounted on the base and located below the enclosure; the stimulus source and feeding assembly are both mounted on the top surface of the mounting plate. An image acquisition device is used to acquire images of the interior of the enclosure, including the animal and the stimulus source. A drive assembly is mounted on the base, and the feeding assembly, the image acquisition device, and the drive assembly are all electrically connected to the control motherboard. The mounting plate is connected to the drive assembly. The control motherboard controls the operation of the drive component, and the housing and the mounting plate rotate relative to each other so that the stimulus source and the feeding component correspond to any one of the feeding ports among the plurality of feeding ports, and the feeding component is controlled to extend into the feeding port according to the image.

[0005] An animal behavior experimental device according to the present invention further includes: a positioning post and a first infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component, the first infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component being electrically connected to the control main board, the positioning post being installed on the housing for marking the position of the feeding port on the housing, the first infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component being installed on the top surface of the mounting plate, and in the case of relative rotation between the housing and the mounting plate, the first infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component being aligned with the positioning post to generate first positioning information, the control main board being used to determine, based on the first positioning information, that the stimulus source and the feeding component correspond to one of the plurality of feeding ports.

[0006] An animal behavior experimental device according to the present invention further includes a mounting rod, the mounting rod comprising a vertical part and a horizontal part, the vertical part being mounted on the base, and the image acquisition device being mounted on the horizontal part.

[0007] An animal behavior experimental device according to the present invention further includes: a second infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component, the second infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component being electrically connected to the control main board, the second infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component being mounted on the top surface of the mounting plate, and in the case of relative rotation between the housing and the mounting plate, the second infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component being opposite to the vertical part to generate second positioning information, the control main board being used to determine the feeding port as the starting feeding port based on the first positioning information and the second positioning information.

[0008] According to an animal behavior experimental device provided by the present invention, each of the first infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component and the second infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component includes an infrared emitting element and an infrared receiving element.

[0009] An animal behavior experiment device according to the present invention further includes a support rod, the mounting plate having a through hole, one end of the support rod being mounted on the base, and the other end of the support rod passing through the through hole and connected to the bottom of the box body, and the driving assembly being connected to the mounting plate for driving the mounting plate to rotate relative to the box body.

[0010] According to an animal behavior experimental device provided by the present invention, the driving component includes a drive motor, a transmission component, and an external toothed rotary bearing. The mounting plate is mounted on the support rod through the external toothed rotary bearing. The drive motor is dynamically coupled to the transmission component, and the transmission component is meshed with the external toothed rotary bearing.

[0011] An animal behavior experimental device according to the present invention further includes a plurality of columns, which are mounted on the base for supporting the external toothed rotary bearing.

[0012] An animal behavior experiment device according to the present invention further includes: an interaction module, which is electrically connected to the control motherboard and is used to transmit control signals to the control motherboard and / or output animal behavior experiment information.

[0013] This invention also provides a method for conducting animal behavior experiments, comprising: The control drive component moves, causing relative rotation between the housing and the mounting plate, so that the stimulus and feeding component correspond to the target feeding port among multiple feeding ports; The feeding component is controlled to extend into the feeding port based on the image acquired by the image acquisition device, wherein the positions of the animal and the stimulus source in the image overlap and meet the target time.

[0014] The animal behavior experimental apparatus and method provided by this invention can flexibly adjust the stimulus source and feeding position, and monitor and analyze the behavior patterns of experimental animals in real time, providing a powerful experimental tool for research in fields such as animal behavior. Attached Figure Description

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in this invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0016] Figure 1 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams of the animal behavior experimental device provided by the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 This is the second schematic diagram of the animal behavior experimental device provided by the present invention.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a flowchart of the animal behavior experiment device and method provided by the present invention.

[0019] Figure label: 1. Base; 2. Housing; 21. Feeding port; 3. Mounting plate; 4. Stimulus source; 5. Feeding component; 6. Image acquisition unit; 7. Drive component; 71. Drive motor; 72. Transmission component; 73. External gear rotary bearing; 74. Motor driver; 8. Control motherboard; 81. Lower computer; 82. Upper computer; 9. Positioning column; 10. First infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component; 11. Mounting rod; 12. Support rod; 13. Column; 14. Second infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component. Detailed Implementation

[0020] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the technical solutions of this invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0021] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the animal behavior experimental device of this invention is a comprehensive experimental platform capable of flexibly and synchronously adjusting the stimulus source 4 and the feeding position, while simultaneously monitoring animal behavior in real time. The animal behavior experimental device of this invention includes: a base 1, a housing 2, a mounting plate 3, a stimulus source 4, a feeding component 5, an image acquisition device 6, a drive component 7, and a control motherboard 8.

[0022] The enclosure 2 is mounted on the base 1. Multiple feeding ports 21 are provided on the outer side of the enclosure 2, and the multiple feeding ports 21 are arranged sequentially along the circumferential direction of the enclosure 2. The mounting plate 3 is mounted on the base 1 and located below the enclosure 2. The stimulus source 4 and the feeding component 5 are both mounted on the top surface of the mounting plate 3. The image acquisition device 6 is used to acquire images inside the enclosure 2, including the animal and the stimulus source 4. The drive component 7 is mounted on the base 1. The feeding component 5, the image acquisition device 6, and the drive component 7 are all electrically connected to the control main board 8. The mounting plate 3 is connected to the drive component 7. The control main board 8 controls the drive component 7 to move, and the enclosure 2 and the mounting plate 3 rotate relative to each other so that the stimulus source 4 and the feeding component 5 correspond to any one of the multiple feeding ports 21. The control main board 8 controls the feeding component 5 to extend into the feeding port 21 according to the image.

[0023] The enclosure 2 is mounted on the base 1, forming a closed or semi-closed space for accommodating laboratory animals. Multiple feeding ports 21 are provided on the outer side of the enclosure 2, arranged sequentially along its circumference, allowing the feeding assembly 5 to extend into the enclosure 2 from different positions. Furthermore, the enclosure 2 should be made of transparent or semi-transparent material to facilitate clear image acquisition by the image acquisition device 6 of the enclosure 2.

[0024] Additionally, mounting plate 3 is installed on base 1 and located below housing 2, serving to support stimulus source 4 and feeding component 5. Stimulus source 4 is installed on the top surface of mounting plate 3 to provide visual, auditory, or tactile stimulation to the experimental animals. Stimulus source 4 can be a magnet or a light source, etc. Feeding component 5 is also installed on the top surface of mounting plate 3 to provide food or rewards to the experimental animals. Feeding component 5 includes a support, housing, electric actuator, and food container. The housing is mounted on the support and has an activity space and an opening communicating with the activity space. The electric actuator is installed within the activity space, and the food container is installed on the electric actuator. Driven by the electric actuator, the food container can move in and out of the activity space through the opening. Furthermore, a feeding port communicating with the activity space is provided on the top of the housing, through which food can enter the food container.

[0025] In addition, the image acquisition device 6 can be a camera used to acquire images inside the enclosure 2 in real time, including the animal's behavior and position, as well as the state and position of the stimulus 4. The image acquisition device 6 is electrically connected to the control motherboard 8, transmitting the acquired image data to the control motherboard 8 for processing and analysis. The control motherboard 8, as the control center, is responsible for receiving and processing the image data from the image acquisition device 6, as well as controlling the actions of the drive component 7 and the feeding component 5.

[0026] The control motherboard 8 receives experimental parameter settings, and the drive component 7 rotates the mounting plate 3 to the target position, ensuring that the stimulus source 4 and the feeding component 5 correspond to a specific feeding port 21. The control motherboard 8 activates the image acquisition device 6 to acquire image data inside the enclosure 2 in real time. The control motherboard 8 processes and analyzes the acquired image data to identify the behavioral patterns and locations of the experimental animals. When the experimental animal exhibits a specific behavior (such as approaching a specific feeding port 21), the control motherboard 8 controls the feeding component 5 to extend into the corresponding feeding port 21, providing the experimental animal with food or a reward. Furthermore, the control motherboard 8 can save the image and behavioral data acquired during the experiment to a memory for subsequent analysis and research.

[0027] Thus, the animal behavior experimental device of this invention can flexibly adjust the stimulus source 4 and the feeding position, monitor and analyze the behavior patterns of experimental animals in real time, and provide a powerful experimental tool for research in fields such as animal behavior.

[0028] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the animal behavior experimental device also includes a positioning post 9 and a first infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component 10. The first infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component 10 is electrically connected to the control main board 8. The positioning post 9 is installed on the housing 2 to mark the position of the feeding port 21 on the housing 2. The first infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component 10 is installed on the top surface of the mounting plate 3. When there is relative rotation between the housing 2 and the mounting plate 3, the first infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component 10 is aligned with the positioning post 9 to generate first positioning information. The control main board 8 is used to determine, based on the first positioning information, that the stimulus source 4 and the feeding component 5 correspond to one of the multiple feeding ports 21. Specifically, the correspondence between the stimulus source 4 and the feeding port 21 means that the stimulus source 4 is located at the bottom of the housing 2 and close to the feeding port 21.

[0029] The positioning post 9 is installed on the housing 2 to mark the position of the feeding port 21 on the housing 2. The positioning post 9 accurately determines the specific position of each feeding port 21, providing a reference for subsequent automatic alignment. For example, each feeding port 21 is provided with a corresponding positioning post 9. The positioning post 9 is typically installed on or near the edge of the feeding port 21 on the housing 2 to ensure that the first infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component 10 can accurately detect its position. For example, the positioning post 9 is located at the bottom of the housing 2 and corresponds to the feeding port 21.

[0030] In practical applications, the first infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component 10 is mounted on the top surface of the mounting plate 3 to detect the position of the positioning post 9, thereby generating first positioning information. The first infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component 10 is electrically connected to the control motherboard 8, transmitting the generated first positioning information to the control motherboard 8 for processing. Thus, by combining the positioning post 9 and the first infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component 10, precise positioning of the feeding port 21 can be achieved, improving the accuracy and reliability of the experiment.

[0031] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the animal behavior experiment device also includes a mounting rod 11, which includes a vertical part and a horizontal part. The vertical part is mounted on the base 1, and the image acquisition device 6 is mounted on the horizontal part.

[0032] It should be noted that the mounting rod 11 includes a vertical part and a horizontal part. The vertical part is used to mount the base 1, and the horizontal part is used to mount the image acquisition device 6. In this way, the position and angle of the image acquisition device 6 can be flexibly adjusted to ensure that images inside the chamber 2 can be clearly captured, including the behavior and position of the experimental animals, as well as the state and position of the stimulus 4.

[0033] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the animal behavior experimental device also includes a second infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component 14. The second infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component 14 is electrically connected to the control main board 8. The second infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component 14 is installed on the top surface of the mounting plate 3. When relative rotation occurs between the box 2 and the mounting plate 3, the second infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component 14 is opposite to the vertical part to generate second positioning information. The control main board 8 is used to determine the feeding port 21 as the starting feeding port based on the first positioning information and the second positioning information.

[0034] When relative rotation occurs between the housing 2 and the mounting plate 3, the second infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component 14 moves relative to the vertical part, generating second positioning information when the second infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component 14 is aligned with the vertical part. This second positioning information is combined with the first positioning information received by the control motherboard 8 to determine the position of the initial feeding port. Specifically, similar to the first infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component 10, the second infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component 14 also includes an infrared emitting element and an infrared receiving element. The infrared emitting element emits infrared light, which is reflected back to the infrared receiving element when it encounters the vertical part. In other words, the position of the target object is detected through the principle of infrared reflection, and the position information is converted into an electrical signal and output to the control motherboard 8.

[0035] Specifically, the first infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component 10 and the second infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component 14 are located on opposite sides of the support. The first infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component 10, the second infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component 14, the feeding component 5, and the stimulation source 4 are all on the same vertical plane. When the first infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component 10 moves to the positioning rod, it generates a low-level digital signal to locate the feeding port 21. When the first infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component 10 passes the positioning rod, it generates a low-level digital signal that is transmitted to the lower-level computer 81. When the second infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component 14 passes the support rod 12, it generates a low-level digital signal that is transmitted to the lower-level computer 81. The lower-level computer 81 locates the starting feeding port based on the two low-level digital signals.

[0036] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the animal behavior experimental device of this embodiment of the invention also includes a support rod 12, a mounting plate 3 with a through hole, one end of the support rod 12 being mounted on the base 1, and the other end of the support rod 12 passing through the through hole and connected to the bottom of the box 2. The drive assembly 7 is connected to the mounting plate 3 and is used to drive the mounting plate 3 to rotate relative to the box 2. The mounting plate 3 is rotatably connected to the support rod 12.

[0037] It should be noted that one end of the support rod 12 is mounted on the base 1, and the other end passes through the through hole on the mounting plate 3 and connects to the bottom of the housing 2. This not only provides additional support for the housing 2 but also ensures stability between the housing 2 and the mounting plate 3 during relative rotation. The drive assembly 7 can precisely control the rotation angle and speed of the mounting plate 3 according to the instructions of the control motherboard 8.

[0038] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the drive assembly 7 includes a drive motor 71, a transmission component 72, and an external gear rotary bearing 73. The mounting plate 3 is mounted on the support rod 12 via the external gear rotary bearing 73. The drive motor 71 and the transmission component 72 are dynamically coupled, and the transmission component 72 is meshed with the external gear rotary bearing 73. The transmission component 72 can be a gear, and the drive motor 71 can be a stepper motor.

[0039] It should be noted that the inner ring of the external gear rotary bearing 73 is mounted on the support rod 12, the mounting plate 3 is mounted on the top surface of the outer ring of the external gear rotary bearing 73, the gear is mounted on the output shaft of the drive motor 71, and the gear meshes with the teeth of the outer ring of the gear rotary bearing.

[0040] Specifically, the drive motor 71 is started, and the motor transmits rotational power to the external gear rotary bearing 73 through the transmission component 72. After receiving the power, the external gear rotary bearing 73 drives the mounting plate 3 to rotate relative to the support rod 12. During the experiment, the speed and direction of the drive motor 71 can be adjusted as needed to control the rotational speed and direction of the mounting plate 3.

[0041] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the animal behavior experimental device of this embodiment of the invention also includes multiple columns 13, which are mounted on the base 1 to support the external gear rotary bearing 73. It should be noted that the multiple columns 13 are arranged circumferentially relative to the mounting plate 3, and the columns 13 can be used to support the inner and outer rings of the external gear rotary bearing 73.

[0042] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the animal behavior experimental device of this embodiment of the invention further includes: an interaction module, which is electrically connected to the control motherboard 8 and is used to transmit control signals to the control motherboard 8 and / or output animal behavior experimental information.

[0043] It should be noted that the interactive module can receive control commands from the experimenter, such as start, stop, and adjustment of experimental parameters, and convert these commands into control signals that are transmitted to the control motherboard 8. The control motherboard 8 adjusts the working state of the experimental apparatus, such as rotation speed and direction, based on the received control signals. The interactive module can collect and process experimental data from the experimental apparatus in real time, such as animal behavioral responses. The processed experimental data is presented to the experimenter in an intuitive and easy-to-understand manner, such as through display screens or printed reports.

[0044] Specifically, the interactive module uses a touchscreen design, allowing experimenters to input control commands by touching buttons or icons on the screen. Simultaneously, the touchscreen can display real-time data, charts, and reports during the experiment, facilitating easy viewing and analysis of results.

[0045] The interactive module employs wireless communication technologies such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to connect to the control motherboard 8 of the experimental setup. Researchers can remotely send control commands to the interactive module using mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Upon receiving the commands, the interactive module converts them into control signals and transmits them to the control motherboard 8, while also returning the experimental results to the mobile device in real time. This allows researchers to remotely control the experimental setup from a distance, improving the convenience and flexibility of the experiment.

[0046] The interactive module in the animal behavior experimental device of this invention, through electrical connection with the control motherboard 8, realizes the transmission of control signals and the output of animal behavior experimental information. This improves the flexibility and user-friendliness of the experimental device, enabling researchers to easily control the experimental process and acquire experimental data. Furthermore, different types of interactive modules can be selected to achieve the best experimental results according to different experimental needs and application scenarios.

[0047] like Figure 3 As shown, the animal behavior experiment method of this invention includes: S100, the control drive component 7 is activated, and relative rotation is generated between the housing 2 and the mounting plate 3 so that the stimulus source 4 and the feeding component 5 correspond to the target feeding port 21 among the multiple feeding ports 21.

[0048] S200, the feeding component 5 is inserted into the feeding port 21 according to the image acquired by the image acquisition device 6, wherein the positions of the animal and the stimulus source 4 in the image overlap and meet the target time.

[0049] Specifically, the control motherboard 8 includes a host computer 82 and a slave computer 81. At the start of the experiment, the host computer 82 sends a start command to the slave computer 81. At this time, the slave computer 81 performs the action of locating the initial feeding port (through the cooperation of the first infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component 10 and the second infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component 14). After locating the initial feeding port, the slave computer 81 sends a "found initial feeding port" command to the host computer 82. After receiving the command, the host computer 82 randomly selects a feeding port 21 and sends it to the slave computer 81. The slave computer 81 performs the action of locating the selected feeding port 21 (using only the first infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component 10 for positioning). After reaching the position of the feeding port 21, the slave computer 81 sends an arrival command to the host computer 82, and the host computer 82 reads and analyzes the image information generated by the image acquisition device 6. Image analysis employs a finely tuned lightweight object detection model (such as Yolo-tiny or Faster R-CNN) to automatically identify animals. When the animal's position overlaps with the location of stimulus 4 for a certain period, it is determined that the animal has found stimulus 4. The host computer 82 sends a reward command to the slave computer 81, which then drives the feeding component 5 into the feeding port 21. After feeding for a certain period, the feeding component 5 retracts, and the slave computer 81 sends a reward completion command to the host computer 82. The host computer 82 then randomly selects the feeding port 21 again and sends it to the slave computer 81, entering the next training cycle. If the animal fails to find the feeding port 21 within a specified training cycle, the host computer 82 randomly selects the feeding port 21 again and sends it to the slave computer 81, entering the next training cycle. The total experimental duration can be set before the experiment. If the experimental duration is greater than or equal to the set total experimental duration before entering the next training cycle, the entire experiment is terminated.

[0050] The specific implementation method of the lower-level computer 81 locating the target feeding port 21 based on the low-level digital signal is as follows: The mounting plate 3 initially rotates counterclockwise. When the first infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component 10 and the second infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component 14 simultaneously generate low-level signals, it is located at the starting feeding port. The upper-level computer 82 randomly selects the feeding port 21. If it is the starting feeding port, the location is successful; if it is another feeding port 21, it rotates clockwise, calculating the arrival time at the feeding port 21 based on the low-level signal of the first infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component 10. In each experiment, the lower-level computer 81 locates the feeding port 21 according to this algorithm, ensuring that the rotation angle of the mounting plate 3 is between 0° and 360° (maximum one full rotation), preventing cable tangling.

[0051] Understandably, the total experiment duration, training cycle duration, feeding duration, and overlap duration between the animal and the stimulus 4 parameters can be modified through the host computer 82 interface or interactive module. The feeding duration is sent to the slave computer 81 via serial port to drive the feeding component 5.

[0052] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. An animal behavior testing apparatus characterized by comprising: include: Base, housing, mounting plate, stimulus source, feeding components, image acquisition unit, drive components, and control motherboard; The enclosure is mounted on the base, and multiple feeding ports are provided on the outer side of the enclosure, arranged sequentially along the circumferential direction of the enclosure. A mounting plate is mounted on the base and located below the enclosure; the stimulus source and feeding assembly are both mounted on the top surface of the mounting plate. An image acquisition device is used to acquire images of the interior of the enclosure, including the animal and the stimulus source. A drive assembly is mounted on the base, and the feeding assembly, the image acquisition device, and the drive assembly are all electrically connected to the control motherboard. The mounting plate is connected to the drive assembly. The control motherboard controls the operation of the drive component, and the housing and the mounting plate rotate relative to each other so that the stimulus source and the feeding component correspond to any one of the feeding ports among the plurality of feeding ports, and the feeding component is controlled to extend into the feeding port according to the image.

2. The animal behavior experimental apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: The system includes a positioning post and a first infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component, which is electrically connected to the control motherboard. The positioning post is mounted on the housing to mark the position of the feeding port on the housing. The first infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component is mounted on the top surface of the mounting plate. When relative rotation occurs between the housing and the mounting plate, the first infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component and the positioning post are aligned to generate first positioning information. The control motherboard is used to determine, based on the first positioning information, that the stimulus source and the feeding component correspond to one of the multiple feeding ports.

3. The animal behavior experimental apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that, It also includes a mounting rod, which has a vertical part and a horizontal part. The vertical part is mounted on the base, and the image acquisition device is mounted on the horizontal part.

4. The animal behavior experimental apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that, Also includes: The second infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component is electrically connected to the control motherboard and is mounted on the top surface of the mounting plate. When relative rotation occurs between the housing and the mounting plate, the second infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component is positioned relative to the vertical part to generate second positioning information. The control motherboard is used to determine the feeding port as the starting feeding port based on the first positioning information and the second positioning information.

5. The animal behavior experimental apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that, Each of the first infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component and the second infrared reflective photoelectric position detection component includes an infrared emitting element and an infrared receiving element.

6. The animal behavior experimental apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a support rod, the mounting plate is provided with a through hole, one end of the support rod is installed on the base, and the other end of the support rod passes through the through hole and is connected to the bottom of the box. The drive assembly is connected to the mounting plate and is used to drive the mounting plate to rotate relative to the box.

7. The animal behavior experimental apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that, The drive assembly includes a drive motor, a transmission component, and an external gear rotary bearing. The mounting plate is mounted on the support rod via the external gear rotary bearing. The drive motor is dynamically coupled to the transmission component, and the transmission component is meshed with the external gear rotary bearing.

8. The animal behavior experimental apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that, It also includes multiple columns, which are mounted on the base to support the external gear rotary bearing.

9. The animal behavior experimental apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: An interaction module, electrically connected to the control motherboard, is used to transmit control signals to the control motherboard and / or output animal behavior experimental information.

10. A method for conducting animal behavior experiments using the animal behavior experimental apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, include: The control drive component moves, causing relative rotation between the housing and the mounting plate, so that the stimulus and feeding component correspond to the target feeding port among multiple feeding ports; The feeding component is controlled to extend into the feeding port based on the image acquired by the image acquisition device, wherein the positions of the animal and the stimulus source in the image overlap and meet the target time.

Images