Mouse Behavioral Testing

Dr. Wahlsten received his Ph.D. degree in psychology from the University of California Irvine and completed his postdoctoral work in behavior genetics at the Institute for Behavioral Genetics at the University of Colorado. He then established research laboratories at the University of Waterloo, the University of Alberta, and the University of North Carolina. The laboratory work involved genetic and developmental analysis of mouse brain defects and methods of behavioral testing. He also acquired expertise in statistical data analysis and theoretical issues central to the field. He was a co-founder of the very successful journal Genes, Brain and Behavior, and was given the Distinguished Scientist award by the International Behavioral and Neural Genetics Society. Throughout his career, he has taught behavioral and neural genetics to undergraduate and graduate students.

Preface Acknowledgments Chapter 1 Introduction to the Research Process The Research Process: Scientific Aspects Adapting the approach to the stage of an investigation Mice, mice, and more mice Measuring instruments: Tests The formal research design Sample size Ethics approval Logistics Obtaining subjects The test day Prelude to data analysis Data analysis Publishing results The Institutional Context of Research People Facilities Policies Chapter 2 Mice Mice Versus Rats Models of Human Functions Origins of Standard Mouse Strains Kinds of Breeding Schemes Outbred animals Closed colony Inbred strains F1 hybrids Selectively bred lines The Process of Close Inbreeding Inbred Strains for Research Special Genotypes Derived from Inbred Strains Coisogenic strains Congenic strains Consomic strains Conplastic strains Recombinant inbred strains Designer Mice: Transgenic Methods and Targeted Mutations Chapter 3 Tests of Mouse Behavior Popularity of Tests Commercial Devices Exploration Open field Nose poke hole board Symmetrical Y maze Home cage activity Anxiety Lightdark box Elevated plus maze Elevated zero and square mazes Vogel conflict test Geller conflict test Motor Function Ataxia observation Grip strength Balance beam Grid test Rotarod Running wheel Treadmill Learning Operant learning Mazes Spatial memory Electric shock Other Tests Chapter 4 Designs One Group Two Groups Matched Pairs Repeated Measures Single-Factor Study With More Than Two Groups (One-Way Design) Two-Factor Studies Multi-Factor Studies Specialized Designs Reciprocal hybrid crosses Manipulations of the maternal environment Transgenerational influences Selective breeding with control for environmental influences Complications Fixed and random effects Nested factors Litter as unit Consulting experts Utilities One- and two-factor studies Three- and higher factor studies Breeding list Chapter 5 Sample Size Utilities to do the Calculations Population and Sample Two kinds of populations Specifying an entire population Random choice of a sample Comparing two groups Comparing several groups Size of an Effect What is an effect? Index of effect size Effect size for a study with two groups Effect size for more than two groups Finding effect size from published data Significance of an Effect False positives happen The more tests, the higher the risk of a false positive Power of a Test Finding the Correct Sample Size Two independent groups 2 2 design, 4 groups J groups, omnibus test J groups, linear contrast Two-way factorial design Designs with more than two factors Chapter 6 Ethics Approval Good Ethics and Good Science The Era Before Regulation The Era of Regulated Research With Animals Ethical Status of Mice and Rats