PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
Translational studies benefit from experimental designs where laboratory organisms use human-relevant behaviors. One such behavior is decision-making, however studying complex decision-making in rodents is labor-intensive and typically restricted to two levels of cost/reward. We design a fully automated, inexpensive, high-throughput framework to study decision-making across multiple levels of rewards and costs: the REward-COst in Rodent Decision-making (RECORD) system. RECORD integrates three components: 1) 3D-printed arenas, 2) custom electronic hardware, and 3) software. We validated four behavioral protocols without employing any food or water restriction, highlighting the versatility of our system. RECORD data exposes heterogeneity in decision-making both within and across individuals that is quantifiably constrained. Using oxycodone self-administration and alcohol-consumption as test cases, we reveal how analytic approaches that incorporate behavioral heterogeneity are sensitive to detecting perturbations in decision-making. RECORD is a powerful approach to studying decision-making in rodents, with features that facilitate translational studies of decision-making in psychiatric disorders.
摘要：
转化研究受益于实验设计，其中实验室生物使用与人类相关的行为。一种这样的行为是决策，然而,在啮齿动物中研究复杂的决策是劳动密集型的,并且通常限于两个水平的成本/奖励.我们设计了一个完全自动化的，便宜,高通量框架，以研究跨多个级别的奖励和成本的决策：啮齿动物决策（记录）系统中的奖励成本。RECORD集成了三个组件：1）3D打印竞技场，2）定制电子硬件，3）软件。我们验证了四种行为方案，没有使用任何食物或水限制，突出了我们系统的多功能性。记录数据揭示了个体内部和个体之间决策的异质性，这些异质性受到了量化约束。使用羟考酮自我给药和饮酒作为测试案例，我们揭示了纳入行为异质性的分析方法如何对检测决策中的扰动敏感。记录是研究啮齿动物决策的一种强大方法，具有促进精神疾病决策转化研究的功能。
