Publication: Non-aversive Animal Restraint Enabling Recording of Optomotor Reflex in Ground Squirrels
Authors
Kiyoharu J. Miyagishima ; Francisco M. Nadal-Nicolás ; John M. Ball ; Thomas Münch ; Boris Benkner ; Wei Li
item.page.secondaryauthor
Facultades de la UMU::Facultad de Medicina
item.page.director
Publisher
Journal of Visualized Experiments.
publication.page.editor
publication.page.department
DOI
doi: 10.3791/68335.
item.page.type
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Description
Abstract
The optomotor reflex (OMR) provides a behavioral assessment of an animal's contrast sensitivity and visual acuity. Mice or rats are typically placed directly onto a small circular platform by hand; however, handling animals like this can stimulate stress and anxiety, which introduce confounding factors when interpreting data. It has been shown that non-aversive handling methods, such as picking up mice or rats in a familiar tunnel/tube, can reduce anxiety. This is of particular interest in studies where animals display heightened stress, overactivity, or motor dysfunction, resulting in an inability to stay on the platform. A team led by Drs. Kiyoharu J. Miyagishima and Francisco M. Nadal-Nicolás have redesigned the conventional OMR platform to provide semiclosed containment. This makes it possible for the first time to record the optomotor reflex in the 13-lined ground squirrel, which is one of the few mammals that can see color. It has a visual streak with a high density of cones similar to the human macula providing an attractive model for studying effects on the cone visual system.
publication.page.subject
Citation
J Vis Exp. 2025 Jul 25;(221):10.3791/68335.
item.page.embargo
18-jul-2027
Collections
Ir a Estadísticas
Este ítem está sujeto a una licencia Creative Commons. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/