Design and construction of a two-temperature preference behavioral assay for undergraduate neuroscience laboratories.

ABSTRACT: Behavioral assays in the undergraduate neuroscience laboratory are useful for illustrating a variety of physiological concepts. An example is homeostatic temperature regulation (thermoregulation). Many model organisms, from flies to mice, regulate internal temperatures in part by moving to suitable climates (thermotaxis). A particularly reliable method of quantifying temperature-dependent thermotactic behaviors is the two-temperature preference behavioral assay. In this preparation, an organism is free to move between two temperature-controlled surfaces, thus revealing its preferred thermal environment. Here we present the design and construction of a two-temperature preference assay chamber. The device uses Peltier-based thermoelectric modules (TECs) for heating and cooling, and is capabl

SUBMITTER: Daniels RL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3597423 | biostudies-literature | 2010

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature