ThermoMaze behavioral paradigm for assessing immobility-related brain events in rodents.

ABSTRACT: Brain states fluctuate between exploratory and consummatory phases of behavior. These state changes affect both internal computation and the organism's responses to sensory inputs. Understanding neuronal mechanisms supporting exploratory and consummatory states and their switching requires experimental control of behavioral shifts and collecting sufficient amounts of brain data. To achieve this goal, we developed the ThermoMaze, which exploits the animal's natural warmth-seeking homeostatic behavior. By decreasing the floor temperature and selectively heating unmarked areas, we observed that mice avoided the aversive state by exploring the maze and finding the warm spot. In its design, the ThermoMaze is analogous to the widely used water maze but without the inconvenience of a wet environm

SUBMITTER: Voroslakos M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11888600 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature