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Design and construction of a two-temperature preference behavioral assay for undergraduate neuroscience laboratories.

ABSTRACT: Behavioral assays in the undergraduate neuroscience laboratory are useful for illustrating a variety of physiological concepts. An example is homeostatic temperature regulation (thermoregulation). Many model organisms, from flies to mice, regulate internal temperatures in part by moving to suitable climates (thermotaxis). A particularly reliable method of quantifying temperature-dependent thermotactic behaviors is the two-temperature preference behavioral assay. In this preparation, an organism is free to move between two temperature-controlled surfaces, thus revealing its preferred thermal environment. Here we present the design and construction of a two-temperature preference assay chamber. The device uses Peltier-based thermoelectric modules (TECs) for heating and cooling, and is capable of precision control of temperatures from -5ºC to 60ºC. Our approach can be easily adapted for use in a variety of physiological and behavioral assays that require precise temperature control over a wide range of temperatures.

SUBMITTER: Daniels RL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3597423 | biostudies-literature | 2010

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Design and construction of a two-temperature preference behavioral assay for undergraduate neuroscience laboratories.

Daniels Richard L RL McKemy David D DD

Journal of undergraduate neuroscience education : JUNE : a publication of FUN, Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience 20101015 1

Behavioral assays in the undergraduate neuroscience laboratory are useful for illustrating a variety of physiological concepts. An example is homeostatic temperature regulation (thermoregulation). Many model organisms, from flies to mice, regulate internal temperatures in part by moving to suitable climates (thermotaxis). A particularly reliable method of quantifying temperature-dependent thermotactic behaviors is the two-temperature preference behavioral assay. In this preparation, an organism ...[more]

PMID: 23494724

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Project description:BackgroundDuring the undergraduate years, laboratory practical classes using experimental animals are important in pharmacy schools. Limitations for experimental use of animals exist, including the procurement of animals, the difficulty in performing animal experiments, ethical considerations, and more often students' preferences.ObjectiveTo evaluate pharmacy students' perceptions, barriers, and confidence regarding animal use in the pharmacology laboratory course, and the effect of animal handling on their confidence.MethodsThis observational pre- and post-course parallel group design study was conducted during the Pharmacology laboratory involving 3rd-year pharmacology students from one school of pharmacy in Jordan. A questionnaire was designed and validated to collect students' demographic characteristics, perceived barriers and perceptions regarding animal handling during the lab, and the level of confidence pre- and post-course, assessing differences between those who handled and those who did not handle animals.ResultsAll Pharmacology lab students (n = 212) with a mean age of 21.11 (SD 1.32) and the majority being females (77.0%) were enrolled. Students who refused to handle animals (n = 105, 49.5%) stated phobia as the main barrier. Students who accepted to handle animals agreed more with the importance of seeing and practicing animal handling, with animal handling being essential to understand the effect of drugs on animals and in its importance to gain skills, than those who refused. More than half of students (55.9%) reported feeling confident/somewhat confident in animal handling and in giving animals injections (50.8%) at baseline. At the end of the course, students who accepted animal handling reported significantly higher confidence.ConclusionThis study revealed important students' barriers and perspectives to animal handling. Those who handled the animals reported better confidence in certain areas at the end of the course than those who refused. Engaging students when making decisions regarding educational practices paves the way for change to the current traditional paradigm in the education of future scholars.

Dataset Information

Design and construction of a two-temperature preference behavioral assay for undergraduate neuroscience laboratories.

Publications

Design and construction of a two-temperature preference behavioral assay for undergraduate neuroscience laboratories.

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