Unit for behavioral functions

Facility/Node
Unit for behavioral functions

Contact person
Sven-Ove Ögren (Sven.Ove.Ogren@neuro.ki.se)

Facility website: http://www.molbiol.umu.se/platform3/musbehav.htm

Summary of service
This unit provides both technical development and can be seen as a competence center with outreach activity.  A standard behavioral test battery for mice phenotyping is now available. The unit can provide help and evaluation as well as advice with both behavioral techniques as well as training in behavioral analysis. The unit is also active in the development and establishment of new technology for behavioral analysis as well as training in behavioral methods.
The unit can also participate to some extent in the characterization of knockout and transgenic mice of WCN projects. The project will involve the characterization of knockout and transgenic mice. In this context, behavioral battery of tests can be offered.

Technologies/Methods
A standard test battery for mice phenotyping:
 
Models for studies of cognitive functions in mice
· The Water Maze Task – a hippocampally mediated task
· Passive Avoidance – a limbic system mediated task
· The 5-hole test box – studies cortical attention mechanisms
Tests for locomotor function in mice
· A computerized multicage system for 8 animals
Tests for anxiety-related behavior
· The elevated plus-maze
· The black-white discrimination test
· The open-field test
Tests related to depression- and psychosis-like behaviors
· The Porsolt test
· The Phencyclidine test

Practical information
For more information on service and prices please see our website.

Details/theories of technology