Application of multivariate t-pattern analysis in the study of social interactions in rats

A basic tenet in the realm of modern behavioral sciences is that behavior consists of patterns in time. For this reason, investigations of behavior deal with sequences that are not easily perceivable by the unaided observer. This problem calls for improved means of detection, data handling and analysis. This review focuses on the analysis of the temporal structure of behavior carried out by means of a multivariate approach known as T-pattern analysis. Using this technique, recurring sequences of behavioral events, usually hard to detect, can be unveiled and carefully described. T-pattern analysis has been successfully applied in the study of various aspects of human or animal behavior such …

Influence of ventral tegmental area (A10 region) on flight behaviour elicited by hypothalamic stimulation in the cat.

The influence of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) (dopaminergic A10 group neurons) on flight behaviour, induced by hypothalamic stimulation, was studied in the cat. Co-stimulation of hypothalamus and VTA (ipsi- or contralateral) induced an increase of the flight latency. Slow-motion analysis of flight behaviour showed that this increase was due to the augmentation of the fixation latency (FL) whereas the upright latency (UL) was not modified. Sulpiride injection (50 mg/kg i.p.) provoked the disappearance of VTA effect without affecting the basal behavioural sequence. The results show that DA A10 group neurons increase the attentive component of the flight reaction, suggesting a possible inf…

Emergent phenomena in rat's behavior

Behavioral analysis of the response to pain stimulation following 7-OH-DPAT, in the rat

Prior test experience produces changes of t-patterns spatial distribution in the elevated plus maze test

Aim of present research was to investigate in male Wistar rats whether a prior elevated plus maze experience modifies the temporal structure of the behavioral response following a retest applied after 24h. Video files were coded by means of a software coder and event log files generated for each subject were analyzed by means of a specific software for temporal pattern analysis (Theme). Present research shows a clear reduction of the number of t-patterns from trial one to trial two. This reduction is provoked by the disappearance of t-patterns consisting of behavioral elements occurring in the unprotected zones of the maze. The results suggest that the previous experience in the maze causes…

Changes in latency of evoked potentials after caudate nucleus stimulation1

Resume L'activation de la tete du noyau caude de chats qui avaient ete soumis a la section de la moelle epiniere a la hauteur de C 1 produit l'inhibition des potentiels evoques de la zone motrice (region pre-cruciale) et la reduction du temps de latence du maximum de l'onde lente negative. Les resultats de la reduction de latence sont discutes par rapport a la variation d'intensite de la stimulation declenchant l'activite du cortex moteur. On sougline enfin le role joue par le noyau caude dans le controle du systeme moteur.

Temporal structure of the rat's behavior in elevated plus maze test

Aim of the research was to evaluate, by means of quantitative and multivariate temporal pattern analyses, the behavior of Wistar rat in elevated plus maze (EPM) test. On the basis of an ethogram encompassing 24 behavioral elements, quantitative results showed that 130.14 ± 8.01 behavioral elements occurred in central platform and in closed arms (protected zones), whereas 88.62 ± 6.04 occurred in open arms (unprotected zones). Percent distribution was characterized by a prevalence of sniffing, walking and vertical exploration. Analysis of minute-by-minute duration evidenced a decrease for time spent in open arms and central platform and an increase for time spent in closed arms. As to multiv…

Effects of 7-OH-DPAT and U 99194 on the behavioral response to hot plate test, in rats

Aim of present study was to investigate in male Wistar rats, whether behavioral response to hot plate test application could be influenced by systemic administration of 7-OH-DPAT, a dopaminergic (DA) D3 versus D2 receptor agonist, or U 99194, a DA D3 versus D2 receptor antagonist. Each trial lasted no more than 10 s and the whole experimental session lasted 120 min. Animal behavior was recorded by means of a digital videocamera and later, frame by frame examined using a professional videorecorder. Latency of each behavioral pattern, characterizing the response, was analysed, showing significant changes only with U 99194. A multivariate cluster analysis indicated the presence of three main b…

Significant divergences between the temporal structure of the behavior in Wistar and in the spontaneously more anxious DA/Han strain of rats tested in elevated plus maze

Abstract The aim of present research is to study the temporal structure of the behavior in two strains of rats with different basal level of emotionality. To this purpose, the temporal profile of the behavior in Wistar rat and in the spontaneously more anxious DA/Han strain was analyzed in the Elevated Plus Maze. Both quantitative and multivariate t-pattern analyses were carried out. In comparison with Wistar, DA/Han subjects showed a significant reduction of the permanence in open arm and a significant increase of the time spent in the central platform of the maze. Mean frequencies of each behavioral element showed significant modifications both in open and in closed arm. Multivariate t-pa…

Temporal Patterns of Rodent Behavior in the Elevated Plus Maze Test

The aim of the present study was to evaluate, by means of a temporal pattern analysis, rat’s behavior in the elevated plus maze test. A specific software called THEME has been used. On the basis of an ethogram encompassing 24 behavioral elements, results demonstrated that 14 components represented the 98% of the displayed activities. 145 different temporal patterns have been detected; length distribution of such patterns showed that three-, four-, and five-elements patterns were more represented than two-elements ones. Finally, a complex temporal pattern encompassing 8 behavioral elements has been discussed. Present article demonstrated the presence of complex temporal patterns characterizi…

T-pattern analysis for the study of temporal structure of animal and human behavior : a comprehensive review

A basic tenet in the realm of modern behavioral sciences is that behavior consists of patterns in time. For this reason, investigations of behavior deal with sequences that are not easily perceivable by the unaided observer. This problem calls for improved means of detection, data handling and analysis. This review focuses on the analysis of the temporal structure of behavior carried out by means of a multivariate approach known as T-pattern analysis. Using this technique, recurring sequences of behavioral events, usually hard to detect, can be unveiled and carefully described. T-pattern analysis has been successfully applied in the study of various aspects of human or animal behavior such …

The role of the substantia nigra in the control of amygdaloid paroxysmal activity.

AbstractBoth in acute and chronic cats, focal paroxysmal activity evoked in the ventro-basal complex of the amygdala has been inhibited by substantia nigra conditioning stimulation, to a greater extent, than by caudate nucleus activation. Injection of kainic acid into substantia nigra resulted in the disappearance of the caudate inhibition. It is suggested that the final control, exerted by the striatum on the amygdaloid seizures, occurs by means of the substantia nigra.

The control of amygdaloid seizures by the globus pallidus.

Both in acute and chronic cats entopeduncular stimulation inhibits, to a greater extent than caudate activation, focal paroxysmal activity in the ventro-basal complex of the amygdala. Lesion of entopeduncular neurons, by means of kainic acid injection, induces a decrease of the caudate inhibitory effect. It is suggested that neostriatal control of the amygdaloid seizures occurs partly through the globus pallidus.

Multivariate temporal pattern analysis applied to the study of rat behavior in the elevated plus maze: Methodological and conceptual highlights

Aim of this article is to illustrate the application of a multivariate approach known as t-pattern analysis in the study of rat behavior in elevated plus maze. By means of this multivariate approach, significant relationships among behavioral events in the course of time can be described. Both quantitative and t-pattern analyses were utilized to analyze data obtained from fifteen male Wistar rats following a trial 1 - trial 2 protocol. In trial 2, in comparison with the initial exposure, mean occurrences of behavioral elements performed in protected zones of the maze showed a significant increase counterbalanced by a significant decrease of mean occurrences of behavioral elements in unprote…

Modificazioni indotte dall'aloperidolo sul comportamento attentivo del ratto.

Aim of present research was to analyze effects of haloperidol, a dopamine D2 receptor antagonist, on focused attention, in the rat. Results suggest that haloperidol might influence specific neural mechanisms involved inn the regulation of attentive behavior likely by affecting sensory-gating dopamine-dependent processes.

Multivariate data handling in the study of rat behavior: an integrated approach.

The aim of the present article is to provide a methodological description of various approaches to multivariate data handling in the study of rodent behavior. To this purpose, 42 male Wistar rats were tested in an open field, and their behavior was recorded through a digital video camera for a subsequent analysis by means of a software coder. After a preliminary evaluation of descriptive features such as durations and percent distributions, we carried out different kinds of multivariate approaches represented by stochastic, cluster, adjusted residual, and T-pattern analyses. In the attempt to depict behavior in a straightforward way, the results of each analysis were graphically illustrated…

Learning influence on the behavioral structure of rat response to pain in hot-plate

Aim of the research was to study, by means of descriptive and multivariate analyses, whether, and how, learning influences the behavioral structure of rat response to pain. To this purpose, a hot-plate test daily repetition procedure was carried out on male Wistar rats for five days. A 6-day interval without stimulation elapsed before last test was carried out on day 12. After composition of an ethogram, descriptive (number, latency, per cent distribution) and multivariate analyses (cluster, stochastic) were carried out for each scheduled test day. One-way ANOVA and Newman-Keuls post-hoc test for multiple comparisons revealed significant changes for climbing, jumping, front-paw licking and …

T-Pattern analysis of rodent behavioral response to anxiety in hole-board

Structure of rat behavior in hole-board: II) multivariate analysis of modifications induced by diazepam.

In our previous study we suggested that multivariate analysis could improve hole-board test reliability providing a more useful tool to determine behavioral effects of anxiolytic drugs. To support this hypothesis, a multivariate analysis of rat behavior in hole-board, following administration of the reference anxiolytic drug diazepam, was carried out. Four groups, each composed of thirty male Wistar rats, were used: one saline and three diazepam injected (0.25, 0.5 and 2 mg/kg IP). Rat behavior was recorded for 10 min through a digital videocamera. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were carried out. In all groups, more than 80% of whole behavioral structure encompassed walking, climbing…

Functional role of basal ganglia in normal and pathological behaviour

The basal ganglia (BG) appear to exert their major influence on motor functions and their related different behavioral activities. It has been proposed that the BG subserve relatively automatic responses to sensory inputs involving high-level functions like behavioural learning and procedural memory. Moreover, BG play a key role in the processes driving motor performance including emotion, motivation and reward. Severe neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), ballism, Huntington’s chorea, Tourette’s syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder have been linked to BG dysfunctions. This article emphasizes the role of the BG in appropriate behavioural respons…

Microstructural assessment of rodent behavior in the hole-board experimental assay

The aim of the present methodological article was to assess whether a microstructure of hole-exploratory activity can be demonstrated in rats tested in the hole-board, an experimental assay widely used to study anxiety-related behaviors in rodents. Six never properly described hole exploratory behavioral components were identified: active-dip, static-dip, rapid-dip, circular-sniff, point-sniff and central-sniff. Results, assessed by means of descriptive and multivariate approaches, reveal a complex microstructural organization of these behavioral elements. The hypothesis of an important role of the relationships between point-sniff and head dipping activities, in anxiety-related hole explor…

Inhibitory effect of A10 dopaminergic neurons of the ventral tegmental area on the orienting response evoked by acoustic stimulation in the cat.

Abstract The effect of bilateral electric stimulation of A10 dopaminergic neurons of the ventral tegmental area (80–300 μA, 20–50 Hz, 0.1–0.5 ms, 2 s duration) on latency and duration of the orienting response, evoked by acoustic stimuli (4500–8000 Hz, 2 s), was studied in the cat. A10 neuron stimulation, simultaneous with the acoustic one, was performed with threshold parameters inducing minimal behavioral signs (head searching movement, sniffing, increase in alertness). By means of a videoanalysis system, a statistically significant increase, both of latency and duration of the response, was observed. The possible role of dopamine was studied administrating sulpiride (20 mg/kg IP), a dopa…

Effects of apomorphine on orienting reaction in the rat

Aim of the research was to study the possible relationship between rapid apomorphine-induced modifications of midbrain dopaminergic neuron activity and rapid modifications of a motor response triggered by sensory stimuli (sensory-motor integration. Following apomorphine administration, ANOVA test revealed significant decrease of head turning latency and duration. A change on dopamine release, leading to an inhibition or facilitation of dopamine-mediated responses to environmental stimuli, may be hypothesized.

The effects of different basal levels of anxiety on the behavioral shift analyzed in the central platform of the elevated plus maze.

The aim of the present research was to study the effects of different basal levels of anxiety on the behavioral shift studied in the central platform of the elevated plus maze. To this purpose, quantitative and multivariate analyses, the latter based on transition matrix elaboration, were carried out on Wistar and on DA/Han rats the latter belonging to a strain characterized by different reactivity to anxiogenic stimuli. Wistar rats spent 74.11 ± 5.11 s in the central platform, whereas DA/Han significantly more: 127.08 ± 9.87. Per cent distributions evidenced a clear-cut difference in walking activities (46.25% in Wistar, 28.4% in DA/Han rats) and in the sniffing activities (45.82% in Wista…

D3 receptors involvement in behavioral switching analysed using the hot plate test, in the rat

Modifications induced on rat exploratory behavior by acoustic stimulation: a multivariate analysis

Effects of 7-OH-DPAT, a D3 receptor agonist, on pain modulation, in the rat

Structure of rat behavior in hole-board: I) multivariate analysis of response to anxiety

Aim of present paper was to carry out an analysis of rat behavior in hole-board following different multivariate approaches. Thirty male Wistar rats were observed in a hole-board apparatus and their behavior recorded for 10 min through a digital videocamera for a following frame-by-frame analysis. Both descriptive and multivariate analyses were used. Descriptive analysis showed that roughly 85% of the whole behavioral structure encompassed six patterns appearing during the first minute of observation: walking, climbing, rearing, immobile-sniffing, edge-sniff and head-dip. As to multivariate approach, cluster analysis showed three main dyadic associations: [edge-sniff/head-dip], [walking/cli…

Microstructure of rat behavioral response to anxiety in hole-board

Aim of present research was to assess, by means of descriptive and multivariate approaches, in Wistar rats tested in hole-board apparatus, whether a microstructure of hole exploratory behavior may be identified in the behavioral response to anxiety. Two groups of 15 subjects were tested: one received 1 ml of saline IP and one was IP injected with diazepam at 0.5 mg/kg dissolved in 1 ml of saline. Following saline, six not yet reported hole-exploratory components were identified: active-dip, static-dip, rapid-dip, circular-sniff, point-sniff and central-sniff. Diazepam provoked significant changes of their per cent distribution. Results of multivariate analyses revealed a complex microstruct…

DOPAMINE D3 RECEPTORS AND FEEDING BEHAVIOR IN THE RAT

Effects of Substantia Nigra Stimulation on Electrical and Mechanical Activities of the Duodeno-Jejunal Loop, in the Cat

The effect of substantia nigra stimulation on duodeno-jejunal intraluminal pressure and electrical activity was analysed in the cat. An inhibitory influence was noted to occur on both the intestinal pressure and the electrical response activity (ERA): the effect seemed to be in correlation with the stimulus parameters employed. After bilateral vagotomy, the inhibition remained substantially unchanged. The possibility of the existence of a sympathetic pathway mediating the effect is emphasized.

Temporal structure of rat behavior in the social interaction test

Temporal patterns analysis of rat behavior in hole-board.

The aim of present research was to analyze the temporal structure of rodent's anxiety-related behavior in hole-board apparatus (HB). Fifteen male Wistar rats were tested for 10 min. Video files, collected for each subject, were coded by means of a software coder and event log files generated for each subject. To assess temporal relationships among behavioral events, log files were processed by means of a t-pattern analysis. 14 two-element t-patterns, four t-patterns encompassing 3 events and 2 t-patterns encompassing 4 and 5 events respectively were revealed. It was demonstrated that rat behavior in HB was mainly structured on the basis of the temporal patterning among exploratory events; t…

Effetti indotti dal PD 128907, potente agonista D3, sulla sequenza di sazietà, nel ratto.

The fixed behavioral sequence exhibited by rat in response to food ingestion is called behavioral satiety sequence (BSS): cessation of feeding is followed by a period of grooming and activity endings with a period of resting. This profile of BSS is closely linked to satiety. In different experimental design, BSS has been used to investigate whether reduction of food intake, induced by different drugs like D1 and D2 receptor agonist, was determined by an influence on processes underlying satiety or on specific behaviors associated to feeding. Our recent data have shown that PD 128907, a D3 receptor agonist, produced a decrease of food intake. In order to assess the mechanism involved in D3 r…

The effects of diazepam on the behavioral structure of the rat's response to pain in the hot-plate test: Anxiolysis vs. pain modulation

The aim of the present study was to evaluate, by means of quantitative and multivariate analyses, the effects of diazepam on the behavioral structure of the rat's response to pain in the hot-plate test as well as whether such changes are associated with drug-induced effects on anxiety and/or nociception. To this purpose, ten groups of male Wistar rats were intraperitoneally injected with saline, diazepam (0.25, 0.5 and 2 mg/kg), FG-7142 (1, 4 and 8 mg/kg) or morphine (3, 6 and 12 mg/kg). The mean number and mean latency to first appearance were calculated for each behavioral component. In addition, multivariate cluster and adjusted residual analyses based on the elaboration of transition ma…

Analisi delle modificazioni indotte dalla microgravità sulla reazione di orientamento indotta nel ratto da stimoli acustici.

Experiments were performed on male Wistar rat during the 4th ESA Student Parabolioc Flight Campaign. Analysis of head turning movement has been employed to study mechanisms involved in sensorimotor integration. Results showed a significant increase both in latency and duration of the response in microgravity condition. A modified cerebellar elaboration process of peripheral proprioceptive and vestibular signals during microgravity has been hypothesized.

Multivariate analysis of the modifications induced by an environmental acoustic cue on rat exploratory behavior.

The aim of the present paper is to study by means of a multivariate analysis the modifications induced by an environmental acoustic cue on the structure of rat exploratory behavior. Adult male Wistar rats were observed during the exploration of a soundproof observation box. Each rat was acoustically stimulated after 150 s from the beginning of the experimental session, lasting 300 s, and recorded through a digital videocamera. A frame by frame analysis was thereafter carried out using a professional video-recording system. Thirteen behavioral patterns were selected: immobility, immobile-sniffing, walking, rearing, climbing, chewing, paw-licking, face-grooming, body-grooming, head-turning, t…

7-OH-DPAT effects on behavioural responses to noxius stimuli, in the rat

Effects of motor cortex removal on circling behaviour.

AbstractChemical stimulation of the dopaminergic nigro-striatal system induces circling behaviour also in animals in which an extensive telencephalic lesion has been performed. In order to avoid the effects linked to chemical stimulation, we have studied the circling behaviour means of electrical stimulation of the caudate nucleus in chronic cats with cortical lesions. The role of the motor cortex on the circling behaviour is emphasized.

T-pattern analysis of diazepam-induced modifications on the temporal organization of rat behavioral response to anxiety in hole board.

Rationale: By means of t-pattern analysis, it has been observed that the different events, characterizing rat behavior in hole board (HB), present close interrelationships which occur sequentially and with significant constraints on the interval lengths separating them. Objectives: The aim of present research was to study, by means of descriptive and multivariate t-pattern analyses, the effects of the reference anxiolytic drug diazepam (DZP) on temporal structure of a rat’s anxiety-related behavior in HB. Methods: Fifty-six male Wistar rats were tested for 10 min in HB. Video files, collected for each animal, were coded by means of a software coder, and event log files, generated for each s…

Altered behavioral response to pain following the D3 receptor antagonist U99194, in the rat.

Rat behavioral structure in the hole board test.

7-OH-DPAT effects on behavioural responses to noxious stimuli, in the rat.