Comprehensive ethological analysis of fear expression in rats using DeepLabCut and SimBA machine learning model.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Defensive responses to threat-associated cues are commonly evaluated using conditioned freezing or suppression of operant responding. However, rats display a broad range of behaviors and shift their defensive behaviors based on immediacy of threats and context. This study aimed to systematically quantify the defensive behaviors that are triggered in response to threat-associated cues and assess whether they can accurately be identified using DeepLabCut in conjunction with SimBA.

Methods

We evaluated behavioral responses to fear using the auditory fear conditioning paradigm. Observable behaviors triggered by threat-associated cues were manually scored using Ethovision XT. Subsequently, we investigated the effects of diazepam (0, 0.3, or 1 mg/kg), administered int

SUBMITTER: Chanthongdee K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11324570 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature