Cliff avoidance experiment device and use method thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a cliff avoidance experiment device, and belongs to the technical field of animal experiments, the cliff avoidance experiment device comprises two square transparent box bodies, the tops of the square transparent box bodies penetrate to form a box opening, the two square transparent box bodies are stacked, the lower square transparent box body is a first box body, and the upper square transparent box body is a second box body; the plate body is fixedly connected to the box opening of the first box body, half of the box opening of the first box body is covered with the plate body, the orthographic projection of the plate body on the first box body occupies a first area of the box bottom of the first box body, and the part, not occupied by the first area, of the box bottom of the first box body is a second area; one end of the black-and-white check cloth is adhered to the plate body and covers the plate body to form a safety area, the other end of the black-and-white check cloth is adhered to the box bottom of the first box body and covers the second area to form a danger area, and the black-and-white check cloth is straightened; all side walls of the second box body are bonded with the pure black cloth. The device can be located in a relatively closed space in the test process, so that the test is more accurate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of animal experimental technology, and specifically relates to a cliff avoidance experimental device and its usage method. Background Technology

[0002] The Cliff Avoidance Test is a classic behavioral experiment used to assess an animal's visual perception, spatial judgment, and instinctive risk avoidance abilities. Its core principle is to utilize the instinctive avoidance response of animals (especially young animals) to a "visual cliff" (a visual stimulus simulating the risk of falling from a height) to assess their visual system function, cognitive development, and functional changes following neural damage. After reaching a certain developmental stage, animals (such as rats, mice, cats, and human infants) will instinctively stop moving forward, retreat, or turn away when faced with a visual scene where the surface suddenly disappears (such as a cliff) to avoid the risk of falling, based on their visual perception of "depth difference." The experiment constructs a visual contrast between a "safe zone" and a "cliff zone" (without actual fall danger) to observe whether the animal can recognize this visual risk and make avoidance behaviors, thus indirectly reflecting its visual depth perception ability and instinctive risk avoidance decision-making ability.

[0003] Currently, cliff avoidance experiments are usually conducted using simple experimental setups. For example, a suspended central platform is set up in three-dimensional space, with an opaque board fixed to one side of the platform and a transparent board fixed to the other side. Mice are placed on the central platform, and the time the mice spend on the opaque and transparent boards is observed, recorded, and analyzed to determine the mice's ability to recognize visual risks.

[0004] Although the experimental setup described above is simple, the mice were not in a relatively enclosed space during the experiment, and the external environment would affect them to some extent, resulting in some errors in the final experimental results. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention provides a cliff avoidance experimental device to solve the technical problem that mice are not in a relatively enclosed space during experiments in current cliff avoidance experimental devices, and external factors may affect the mice to some extent, resulting in certain errors in the final experimental results.

[0006] This invention is achieved through the following technical solution: a cliff avoidance experimental device for conducting visual experiments on mice, comprising: Two square transparent boxes, with an opening formed by a through-hole at the top of each box, are stacked together. The lower square transparent box is the first box, and the upper square transparent box is the second box. A plate is fixed to the opening of the first box, the plate covers half of the opening of the first box, and the plate's orthographic projection on the first box occupies a first area of ​​the bottom of the first box, the part of the bottom of the first box not occupied by the first area is a second area. A black and white checkered fabric is attached to the board at one end and covers the board to form a safe area, and attached to the bottom of the first box to cover the second area to form a danger area. The black and white checkered fabric is in a straightened state. Pure black fabric is adhered to all side walls of the second box body.

[0007] Furthermore, to better realize the present invention, it also includes: The top cover, made of an opaque material, is detachably attached to the second box body and is used to seal the opening of the second box body.

[0008] Furthermore, to better realize the present invention, it also includes: A lighting lamp is used to illuminate the interior space of the second housing, and the lighting lamp is installed on the top cover or on the inner side wall of the second housing.

[0009] Furthermore, to better realize the present invention, it also includes: A camera is used to collect image information of mice inside the second box. The camera is mounted on the top cover or on the inner wall of the second box.

[0010] Furthermore, to better realize the present invention, it also includes: A black plastic sheet is inserted into the second box and covers one side wall of the second box. The side wall covered by the black plastic sheet is the first side wall. A through hole is opened at the lower part of the second box at the corresponding position of the first side wall and the pure black cloth. An exit channel is connected to the outer wall of the second box body. The exit channel is connected to the through hole and communicates with the mouse cage.

[0011] Furthermore, in order to better realize the present invention, one end of the top cover is hinged to the second box body, and the other end of the top cover overlaps the top of the black plastic plate; A lifting mechanism is also installed on the outer wall of the second box, which is connected to the black plastic plate to drive the black plastic plate to rise and fall.

[0012] Furthermore, to better realize the present invention, the lifting mechanism includes: An electric telescopic rod with its telescopic shaft facing upwards has a connecting rod connected to the free end of the telescopic shaft. A groove extending vertically through the top of the second box body is provided on the first side wall. The connecting rod is slidably placed in the groove and is connected to the upper side wall of the black plastic plate.

[0013] Furthermore, in order to better realize the present invention, the side wall of the second box body also includes a second side wall, which is directly opposite to the first side wall. A storage box located outside the second box body is provided on the second side wall, and a counterweight is placed in the storage box.

[0014] The present invention also provides a method of using the above-mentioned cliff avoidance experimental device, comprising: Place the mouse into the second box so that the mouse is positioned at the edge of the safe area; Observe and record the activity of the mice in the second box over a period of 5 minutes; The activities were analyzed to determine whether the mice possessed visual depth perception and instinctive risk avoidance decision-making abilities.

[0015] Furthermore, to better realize the present invention, the activity of the mice in the second box within 5 minutes was observed and recorded as follows: Observe and record the time the mice spend in the corresponding positions of the safe zone and the time the mice spend in the corresponding positions of the danger zone.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages: The cliff avoidance experimental device provided by the present invention includes two square transparent boxes with openings formed by their tops, a plate, a black and white checkered cloth, and a pure black cloth. The two square transparent boxes are stacked, with the lower square transparent box being the first box and the upper square transparent box being the second box. The plate is fixed to the opening of the first box, covering half of the opening of the first box. The orthogonal projection of the plate onto the first box occupies a first area of ​​the bottom of the first box, and the part of the bottom of the first box not occupied by the first area is the second area. One end of the black and white checkered cloth is adhered to the plate and covers the plate to form a safe area, and the other end is adhered to the bottom of the first box and covers the second area to form a danger area. The black and white checkered cloth is in a straightened state, and pure black cloth is adhered to all side walls of the second box.

[0017] In use, the mouse is first placed in the second enclosure, positioned at the edge of the aforementioned safe zone. Because the side walls of the second enclosure are covered with pure black fabric, the sides of the space where the mouse is located are entirely black, creating a relatively enclosed environment. The mouse's activities within the second enclosure are then observed and recorded over a 5-minute period. Finally, the activity is analyzed to determine whether the mouse possesses visual depth perception and instinctive risk avoidance decision-making abilities. Specifically, observing and recording the mouse's activities within the second enclosure over 5 minutes involves observing and recording the time the mouse spends in the corresponding positions within the safe zone and the corresponding positions within the danger zone.

[0018] Through the above structure, the device creates a visual difference by using the first box, the second box, and the black and white checkered fabric, thereby simulating the formation of a safe zone and a danger zone. Furthermore, by using the pure black fabric, a space with black edges is formed inside the second box, so that the mice in the experiment are in a relatively closed space, reducing external interference to the mice in the experiment and thus improving the accuracy of the experiment. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present 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 only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the cliff avoidance experimental device provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the black and white checkered fabric in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] In the picture: 10-First box body, 20-Second box body, 30-Board body, 40-Black and white checkered fabric, 50-Pure black fabric, 60-Top cover, 70-Lighting light, 80-Camera, 90-Black plastic board, 100-Climbing passage, 110-Electric telescopic rod, 111-Connecting rod, 120-Storage box, 121-Counterweight block. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the technical solutions of this invention will be described in detail below. Obviously, the described embodiments are merely some embodiments of this invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this invention, all other implementation methods obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0023] Example 1: like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the cliff avoidance experimental device provided by this invention is used to conduct cliff avoidance experiments on mice. The device includes two square transparent boxes with openings formed by penetrations at the top, a plate 30, a black and white checkered cloth 40, and a pure black cloth 50. Specifically: Two square transparent boxes are stacked together and then fixed with adhesive. The lower square transparent box is the first box 10, and the upper square transparent box is the second box 20. A plate 30 is fixed to the opening of the first box 10, covering half of the opening of the first box 10. The projection of the plate 30 onto the bottom of the first box 10 occupies a first area, and the part of the bottom of the first box 10 not occupied by the first area is the second area. One end of the black and white checkered fabric 40 is glued to the plate 30 and covers the plate 30 to form a safety area, and the other end is glued to the bottom of the first box 10 and covers the second area to form a danger area. The black and white checkered fabric 40 is in a straight state. Pure black fabric 50 is glued to all side walls of the second box 20.

[0024] In use, the mouse is first placed in the second box 20, positioned at the edge of the aforementioned safe zone. Because the side walls of the second box 20 are covered with pure black fabric 50, the sides of the space where the mouse is located are black, thus creating a relatively enclosed space for the mouse. The mouse's activities within the second box 20 are then observed and recorded over 5 minutes. Finally, the activities are analyzed to determine whether the mouse possesses visual depth perception and instinctive risk avoidance decision-making abilities. Specifically, observing and recording the mouse's activities within the second box 20 over 5 minutes involves observing and recording the time the mouse spends in the corresponding position within the safe zone and the time it spends in the corresponding position within the danger zone.

[0025] Through the above structure, the device creates a visual difference by using the first box 10, the second box 20 and the black and white checkered cloth 40, thereby simulating the formation of a safe zone and a danger zone. Furthermore, by using the pure black cloth 50, a space with black edges is formed inside the second box 20, so that the mice in the experiment are in a relatively closed space, reducing external interference to the mice in the experiment and thus improving the accuracy of the experiment.

[0026] Optionally, a top cover 60 can be detachably connected to the second box 20. The top cover 60 is made of an opaque material and can seal the opening of the second box 20. When a mouse needs to be placed in the second box 20, the top cover 60 is opened; during the experiment, the top cover 60 is closed, thus placing the mouse in a more enclosed space and further reducing external influences on the mouse. A light 70 is installed on the top cover 60 or the inner wall of the second box 20. This light 70 is used to cool the interior space of the second box 20, providing illumination for the mouse's activities. The brightness of the light 70 is adjustable; however, adjustable brightness lights 70 are existing technology and will not be described in detail here. A camera 80 is also installed on the top cover 60 or the inner wall of the second box 20. This camera 80 is used to collect image information of the mouse's activities inside the second box 20. Of course, it also includes a power supply for powering the aforementioned lighting 70 and camera 80, and a control unit (e.g., a chip) for controlling the operation of the lighting 70 and camera 80.

[0027] Of course, the device can also be without the aforementioned top cover 60. In this case, the camera 80 and the lighting lamp 70 are both mounted on the inner wall of the second box 20 or on the external bracket. As long as the lighting lamp 70 can illuminate the internal space of the second box 20, the camera 80 can collect image information related to the activities of the mice inside the second box 20.

[0028] An optional implementation of this embodiment is as follows: A black plastic plate 90, capable of covering one side wall of the second box 20, is inserted into the second box 20. The side wall of the second box 20 covered by the black plastic plate 90 is defined as the first side wall. A through hole is provided at the corresponding position of the first side wall and the pure black cloth 50. The through hole is located at the lower part of the second box 20, and the bottom end of the through hole is flush with the bottom of the second box 20. A crawling passage 100 is connected to the outer wall of the second box 20. The crawling passage 100 is connected to the through hole and communicates with the mouse cage. Thus, when the experiment begins, the black plastic plate 90 is inserted into the second box 20, so that the black plastic plate 90 covers the first side wall, that is, covers the through hole. Then, the mouse is placed in the second box 20. When the experiment ends, the black plastic plate 90 is pulled up to expose the through hole, and the mouse is driven or induced to enter the through hole and crawl through the crawling passage 100 to enter the mouse cage. In this way, after the experiment, the staff only need to drive or lure the mice into the through hole, and the mice will climb into the cage from the second box 20 on their own. The staff does not need to use their hands or tools to take the mice out of the second box 20.

[0029] Optionally, one end of the top cover 60 is hinged to the second box 20, and the other end of the top cover 60 overlaps the top of the black plastic plate 90. A lifting mechanism is also installed on the outer wall of the second box 20, and the lifting mechanism is connected to the black plastic plate 90 to drive the black plastic plate 90 to rise and fall. When the lifting mechanism drives the black plastic plate 90 to move upward to the highest point, the through hole is exposed, and the black plastic plate 90 lifts the top cover 60 upward; when the lifting mechanism drives the black plastic plate 90 to move downward to the lowest point, the black plastic plate 90 completely covers the first side wall, and the top of the black plastic plate 90 is flush with the top of the second box 20. Therefore, at this time, the top cover 60 covers the opening of the second box 20.

[0030] Specifically, the aforementioned lifting mechanism is an electric telescopic rod 110 with its telescopic shaft pointing upwards. A connecting rod 111 is connected to the free end of the telescopic shaft. A groove extending vertically and penetrating the top of the second housing 20 is provided on the first side wall. The connecting rod 111 is slidably placed in the groove and is connected to the upper side wall of the black plastic plate 90. In this way, when the electric telescopic rod 110 extends or retracts, it can drive the black plastic plate 90 to rise and fall.

[0031] More preferably, the sidewall of the second box 20 further includes a second sidewall, which is directly opposite the first sidewall. A storage box 120 is provided on the second sidewall outside the second box 20, and a counterweight 121 is placed inside the storage box 120. Because the lifting mechanism and the climbing channel 100 have a certain weight, the lifting mechanism and the climbing channel 100 located on the first sidewall will cause the center of gravity of the entire device to be biased towards the side where the first sidewall is located. The counterweight 121 can balance the weight of the lifting mechanism and the climbing channel 100, thereby keeping the center of gravity of the entire device in the middle of the device, thus preventing the entire device from tipping over.

[0032] Example 2: This embodiment provides a method that uses the cliff avoidance experimental apparatus provided in Embodiment 1 to conduct experiments on mice. The method includes: Step 1: Place the mouse into the second box 20, so that the mouse is placed at the edge of the safe zone.

[0033] Step 2: Observe and record the activity of the mice in the second box 20 over 5 minutes. Specifically, observe and record the time the mice spend in the corresponding positions of the safe zone and the corresponding positions of the danger zone.

[0034] Step 3: Analyze the activity to determine whether the mice possess visual depth perception and instinctive risk avoidance decision-making abilities.

[0035] The above are merely specific embodiments of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope described in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A cliff avoidance experimental device for conducting visual experiments on mice, characterized in that, include: Two square transparent boxes, with the top of the square transparent boxes forming a box opening, the two square transparent boxes are stacked, wherein the square transparent box located below is the first box (10) and the square transparent box located above is the second box (20); A plate (30) is fixed to the opening of the first box (10). The plate (30) covers half of the opening of the first box (10), and the orthographic projection of the plate (30) on the first box (10) occupies a first region of the bottom of the first box (10). The part of the bottom of the first box (10) not occupied by the first region is a second region. The black and white checkered fabric (40) is attached to the plate (30) at one end and covers the plate (30) to form a safe area, and attached to the bottom of the first box (10) at the other end and covers the second area to form a danger area. The black and white checkered fabric (40) is in a straightened state. Pure black fabric (50) is adhered to all side walls of the second box body (20).

2. The cliff avoidance experimental device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: The top cover (60), made of an opaque material, is detachably attached to the second box body (20) and is used to seal the opening of the second box body (20).

3. The cliff avoidance experimental device according to claim 2, characterized in that, Also includes: A lighting lamp (70) is used to illuminate the interior space of the second housing (20), and the lighting lamp (70) is installed on the top cover (60) or on the inner side wall of the second housing (20).

4. The cliff avoidance experimental device according to claim 3, characterized in that, Also includes: A camera (80) is used to collect image information of mice inside the second box (20). The camera (80) is installed on the top cover (60) or on the inner wall of the second box (20).

5. The cliff avoidance experimental apparatus according to any one of claims 2-4, characterized in that, Also includes: A black plastic plate (90) is inserted into the second box (20) and covers one side wall of the second box (20). The side wall covered by the black plastic plate (90) is the first side wall. A through hole located at the lower part of the second box (20) is opened at the corresponding position of the first side wall and the pure black cloth (50). An exit channel (100) is connected to the outer wall of the second box (20), the exit channel (100) is connected to the through hole, and the exit channel (100) is connected to the mouse cage.

6. The cliff avoidance experimental device according to claim 5, characterized in that: One end of the top cover (60) is hinged to the second box body (20), and the other end of the top cover (60) overlaps the top of the black plastic plate (90); A lifting mechanism is also installed on the outer wall of the second box (20), which is connected to the black plastic plate (90) to drive the black plastic plate (90) to rise and fall.

7. The cliff avoidance experimental device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The lifting mechanism includes: An electric telescopic rod (110) with its telescopic shaft facing upward has a connecting rod (111) connected to the free end of the telescopic shaft. A groove is provided on the first side wall that extends vertically and passes through the top of the second box (20). The connecting rod (111) is slidably placed in the groove and is connected to the upper side wall of the black plastic plate (90).

8. The cliff avoidance experimental device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The second box (20) also includes a second side wall, which is directly opposite the first side wall. A storage box (120) is provided on the second side wall outside the second box (20), and a counterweight (121) is placed in the storage box (120).

9. A method of using the cliff avoidance experimental apparatus as described in any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, include: Place the mouse into the second box (20) so that the mouse is positioned at the edge of the safe area; Observe and record the activity of the mice in the second box (20) over a period of 5 minutes; The activities were analyzed to determine whether the mice possessed visual depth perception and instinctive risk avoidance decision-making abilities.

10. The method of using the cliff avoidance experimental device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The activity of the mice in the second box (20) was observed and recorded within 5 minutes as follows: Observe and record the time the mice spend in the corresponding positions of the safe zone and the time the mice spend in the corresponding positions of the danger zone.

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