Analyzing grooming microstructure in neurobehavioral experiments

Allan V. Kalueff*, J. Wayne Aldridge, Justin L. Laporte, Dennis L. Murphy, Pentti Tuohimaa

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

183 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Grooming is a commonplace, robust behavior in rodent species. It has been shown to be highly sensitive to a number of experimental factors, making it an ideal target for manipulation. The complex patterning of grooming in rodents, which usually proceeds in a cephalo-caudal direction and involves several distinct stages, can be dissected into its constituent parts and microstructures. Several grooming patterning analysis methods are described in the protocol that allow for an assessment of this behavior based on measurements of grooming activity and its sequencing. Additionally, grooming can be evaluated in reference to the regional distribution and syntax in which it occurs. Owing to the ever-increasing number of rodent models that have strong grooming phenotypes, this high-throughput in-depth analysis is becoming crucial for biomedical research.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2538-2544
Number of pages7
JournalNature Protocols
Volume2
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2007
Externally publishedYes

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