Activity Monitoring Protocol

General Overview
In this task the normal behaviors a mouse exhibits in a homecage setting are monitored and measured. Data collected from these sessions include, but are not limited to, the length of time and the frequency mice perform behaviors such as walking, jumping, hanging, drinking, eating, rearing, grooming, sniffing, digging and foraging, sleeping, etc.

Apparatus
Clean standard housing cage, complete with bedding, food, and water, located inside a sound attenuating chamber. Behavior is recorded through a video camera positioned inside the sound attenuating chamber, but outside the housing cages. Behavior is analyzed via Clever Sys HomecageScan software (Clever Sys, Reston VA).

Procedure Mice are placed in the housing cage and behavior is monitored for 20 - 60 minutes a day, on 2-4 consecutive days.