Dark Enclosure inside Open Field Monitor (Rendered)
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Dark Enclosure inside Open Field Monitor (Rendered)
Fear Conditioning System
Stimulus Hub
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Omnitech Electronics Fusion Software
Fusion Software

Dark Enclosure

The light/dark box test assesses anxiety in rodents by measuring their preference for dark versus brightly lit areas with more time in the dark suggesting higher anxiety. The Fusion system automates this by dividing the cage into light and dark zones, tracking behaviors like movement, time spent, and activity levels to provide detailed anxiety-related data.

 

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Description

Overview

Rodents have an innate aversion to brightly, illuminated areas and their tendency to spontaneously explore novel environments makes the light/dark box test an easy to use apparatus that requires no prior training of the animals. The light/dark test is useful in predicting anxiolytic like or anxiogenic like activity in mice or rats. It has been shown that anxious animals will move to the dark side more quickly and will move away from the dark side less often than those animals without an anxiety trait. Hence, more time on the light side indicates decreased anxiety.

The Fusion system can generate data based on multiple independent Zones within a given cage. A Dark Enclosure is placed at the rear of the Monitor.The Fusion Software is used to divide the cage into 2 equal Zones marked Light and Dark. Data such as Side Changes, Light and Dark Distance Travelled, Horizontal Activity, Time Spent, Movement Time, Rest Time, Vertical Activity and Latency can be measured and recorded.

The Dark Enclosure

The Dark Enclosure allows the Beams in the Horizontal and Vertical sensors to monitor the Animal’s Activity.

The Mouse Dark Enclosure measures – 16″ L x 8″ H x 5″ W with an animal entry opening of 4″ x 1.25″.

The Rat Dark Enclosure measures – 16″ L x 8″ H x 8″ W with an animal entry opening of 4″ x 2.50″.

Research Articles

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The SuperFlex is a powerful and versatile open field system for tracking animal movement and behavior. It uses a 16x16 infrared grid to monitor animals in standard or custom-sized cages, with recorded data analyzed through Omnitech's Fusion software. This software allows for flexible experiment design, multi-animal tracking, and long-term studies, while generating visual outputs like heat maps and path plots. The system is easy to set up with plug-and-play USB connectivity and can handle up to 32 systems on a single PC, making it ideal for high-throughput research. SuperFlex offers customizable sensor configurations and integrates smoothly with other lab equipment, providing a flexible, scalable solution for behavioral research.
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Activity Wheel

The Activity Wheel is a useful tool for locomotor studies, easily attaching to the SuperFlex open field's acrylic cage. It enables more detailed exercise research and enhances the animal's environment. A dual wheel cage option is also available for high throughput experiments.
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Baited Hole Board

This system features an elevated platform with 16 equally spaced holes, each large enough for an animal to investigate without passing through. Beneath each hole is a food or reward cup, some of which are covered by removable screens, allowing the animal to see and smell the reward without retrieving it. Light beam sensors monitor which holes the animal investigates, tracking the time, duration, and location. Over time, animals typically make fewer mistakes and reach the target holes faster, allowing researchers to measure learning and behavior.
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Conditioned Place Preference

The Conditioned Place Preference (CPP) and Conditioned Place Aversion (CPA) systems are used to study animals' preference or aversion to stimuli, such as drugs, through Pavlovian conditioning. The protocol consists of three phases: habituation, conditioning (associating the drug with a cue), and testing where the animal chooses between the drug-associated and neutral cues. If the drug induces preference, the animal spends more time near the drug cue, or less time if it induces aversion. Sensors track variables like locomotor activity, time spent, entries into compartments, and movement, providing detailed data on the animal's response to the conditioning.
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ECC Isometric Closeup 7178 (Medium)
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Environmental Control Chamber

The Environmental Control Chamber (ECC) is designed to minimize external influences on experimental subjects, reducing environmental bias. It works in conjunction with the SuperFlex Open Field system, providing uniform lighting and sound attenuation, ideal for light- and sound-sensitive experiments. Lighting duration and intensity can be programmed, simulating day/night cycles. The stackable design saves space, with optional mobile bases for easy transport and cleaning. The ECC powers the open field setup with a single cord, and features a silent, user-controlled fan to manage airflow and temperature.
 
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ShuttleFlex Shuttle Box

The ShuttleFlex Shuttle Box is a fully automated system for conducting Active/Passive Avoidance studies with up to 16 animals. It features programmable settings for light, sound, and shock intensities, all controlled by Fusion Software. The system records data, displays real-time status for each chamber, and allows simultaneous, independent experiments. The box includes infrared sensors to track animal movements, an automated guillotine door, and adjustable stimuli like light, sound, and scrambled shock to prevent animals from avoiding shocks by position. The setup is easy to clean and customizable with features like darkened panels and interchangeable lights.
   
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Fear Conditioning System
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Stimulus Hub

The Stimulus Hub is a system designed to test animal responses to anxiety-inducing stimuli (light, sound, and shock) while tracking movement through integration with the Fusion system. It can run tests on up to 16 animals at once, with programmable intensity, duration, and sequence for each stimulus. The system measures latency in response to stimuli, including movement and rearing. Each experiment consists of multiple "repetitions" of light, sound, and shock events, with customizable parameters for timing, intensity, and order. The software analyzes the response times and movement during the tests.
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