# Social approach

Definition

A discrete (state event) variable that is scored when the focal subject approaches another subject. The distance between the center points of the two subjects is within two mean body lengths of the approached subject. Social approach does not necessarily lead to contact.

Calculation

1.EthoVision XT finds all the instances of the events Approach between two subjects in the Live Mouse Tracker database.

2.EthoVision XT calculates the average body length of the approached subject, measured as the distance between the nose-point and the tail-base point, throughout the entire track.

3.If the distance between the center point of the focal subject is within two times the average body length of the approached subject, Social approach is scored for that sample.

How to specify Social approach

1.Open an Analysis profile and in the Dependent Variables panel, under Live Mouse Tracker, click the Add button next to Social approach.

2.Click the Receivers tab.

Under Select, choose the subjects that the focal subject approached. If you select two or more subjects, select one of the available options from the list:

▪All selected subjects: Social approach is scored when the focal subject approached all the subjects selected above simultaneously. For example, when the focal subject approached a group of three cage mates.

▪Any selected subject: Social approach is scored when the focal subject approached any of the subjects selected above.

▪Each subject: Social approach is scored when the focal subject approached one of the subjects selected above. The results are displayed for each Receiver.

3.Complete the procedure to add the variable to the Analysis profile. See Calculate statistics: procedure

Notes

In the Trial Statistics results table, with the default layout, the results of Social approach are shown per subject (on the rows). The columns vary depending on what you chose in the Receivers tab (see above).

▪If you chose Each subject, the columns contain the statistics of Social approach directed to specific subjects (for example, Social approach A to D).

▪If you chose All selected subjects or Any selected subject, a column All of A, B, C, D or Any of A, B, C, D contains cumulative statistics of Social approach when the subject was approached all the cage mates simultaneously or approached any of them, respectively, depending on which option you chose.

See also

▪Approach rearing subject

▪Social escape

▪Social > Relative movement