Locomotor Activity & Exploration IR Actimeter for Locomotor Activity Assessment Locomotor Activity & Exploration • IR Actimeter for Locomotor Activity Assessment key features } Interchangeable frames can be used without } Can be used without a computer (independent control units) distinction for rearing activity or poking modes } Can be used with open field transparent walls or directly with the home cage 32 IR frames Options for additional features: • SEDACOM Software with RS-232/USB adapter, see pages 38-39 • ActiTrack Software, see page 26 • Transparent Arenas • Arena Dividers • Hole Poke Board The Infrared (IR) Actimeter allows the study of spontaneous locomotor activity, rearing and optional hole-board test parameters for exploration in rodents. A reliable system for easy and rapid drug screening and phenotype characterization in both day and night lighting conditions. The system involves a two dimensional (X and Y axes) square frames, a frame support and a control unit. Each frame counts with 16 x 16 infrared beams for optimal subject detection. The system is completely modular: each frame may be used for evaluation of general activity (one or more animals), locomotor, stereotypic movements, rearings or exploration (nose-spoke detection in the hole-board option). The infrared photocell system can be set with up to 15 levels of sensitivity in order to adapt the frames to the species of the animal (rats, mice). It can also be set to ignore the beams that are obstructed by objects (e.g. the walls/corners of the home cage). Use the system with existing home cages for longer experiments (circadian cycle studies) or with our transparent arenas for shorter, locomotor activity evaluation. The frames can be controlled by independent control units or directly through our SEDACOM software, which allows easy export of data (through RS-232/USB serial port) to Excel™. Optionally, the ActiTrack software option may be used to analyze animal trajectories (distance, speed, permanence time in selected zones) and then provide additional complementary data to that obtained using the control units. } Simultaneous recording of up to 16 cages or } Dedicated PC optional, not required parameters measured } Fast/Slow stereotypies; i.e. movements without displacement (control unit and SEDACOM) } Fast/Slow rearings (control unit and SEDACOM) } Fast/Slow nose-spoke (control unit and SEDACOM) } Global activity – total IR counting (ActiTrack) } Analysis of animal tracking: distance covered, speed, rearings, permanence time in selected zones, etc. (ActiTrack) } Intervals of inactivity (ActiTrack) For a complete system, the following items are needed: • IR Frame • One frame needed for x, y monitoring • Two frames needed for x, y and z monitoring • Support for frames • Data Logger 24 www.coulbourn.com • www.panlab.com