Activity analysis

Aim

Activity measures temporal changes in the video image that may have biological meaning. For example, a sudden drop in the levels of Activity in an open field may indicate freezing in a fear conditioning experiment. This can be detected automatically by EthoVision XT, based on the amount of temporal change in the gray scale value of each pixel in the arena.

example In the example below: pixels marked in purple indicate temporal change in their gray scale value. Left: No pixel change around the mouse, which is completely immobile. Right: Pixel change when the mouse is active.

Additional examples:

▪Detect immobility in a Porsolt swim test. When the subject stays still in the cylinder, Activity is reduced to a minimal level.

▪Detect activity of insects flying around a target object. The more insects are flying around the target, the higher the level of Activity.

To use Activity Analysis

1.Choose Setup > Experiment Settings, and under Analysis options select Activity analysis.

2.In the Arena Settings, define the arena.

3.In the Detection Settings, define the level of significant activity. See Activity settings

4.Run your trials. During acquisition, you can monitor the level of activity and, if necessary, use this information to adjust the activity settings to better detect the behavior you are interested in.

See an example in Fear conditioning: view Activity state

5.To analyze activity, in the Analysis profile choose the variables Activity and Activity state.

Notes

▪Activity analysis is only available when in the Experiment Settings, under Subjects, you select 1 Subject per arena.