Behavior investigations are fundamental to study higher organismal functions. Any complex interaction of an organism with its environment involves behavioral responses that may require higher cognitive functions. Studies on learning and memory crucially depend on behavioral responses in defined test situations of organisms ideally under physiological conditions.
Behavior tests at the CNCR are combined with genetic and pharmacological interventions in rodent models (mice and rats) to improve our understanding of mechanistic contributions of genes and molecules in neural networks of specific brain areas underlying physiological states and their turnover to pathology. For this purpose we use a broad spectrum of behavior test assays that are refined and optimized to investigate:
• basic and reflexive motor function (assays: rotarod, locomotor activity tests, acoustic startle reflex)
• anxiety-like behavior (assays: open field test, elevated plus maze, dark-light box, hyponeophagia)
• depression-like behavior (assays: forced swim test, social defeat approaches)
• fear learning and extinction (assays: fear conditioning and passive avoidance)
• spatial learning (assays: Barnes maze, spatial object discrimination)
• attention and impulse control for executive function (assay: 5-choice serial reaction time test)
• addiction (assays: conditioned place preference, self-administration models ± operant conditioning)
Additionally, long-term monitoring of various mouse behaviors occurs with minimal human intervention for improved replicability and translational value from mouse to man. Behavior tests are partly complemented by independent physiological measures such as heart rate dynamics and neural responses using biotelemetry in freely moving mice. Furthermore, molecular approaches are implemented such as gene expression profiling to investigate regulatory mechanisms in response to behavioral performances. Finally, the genetic contributions to human traits including cognitive function are investigated to provide for candidate genes of human disorders (e.g. synaptopathies) that then will be studied in animal models to improve our mechanistic understanding of underlying principles, and to investigate new therapeutic targets.
