Versatile computerized system for tracking and analysis of water maze tests

EthoVision: A versatile video tracking system for automation of behavioral experiments

“…Some other systems have been specifically designed for a particular experiment, such as the Morris water maze (e.g., Mukhina et al, 2001;Spooner et al, 1994), whereas EthoVision can work with any shape of arena, with a large variety of backgrounds and lighting conditions. The ability of EthoVision to track multiple animals in an arena means not only that social interac-tions can be studied (Rousseau, Spruijt, & Gispen, 1996;Sams-Dodd, 1995;Sgoifo, Kole, Buwalka, de Boer, & Koolhaas, 1998;Spruijt et al, 1992) but that separate parts of the animals can be marked and tracked independently ( Ï Sustr et al, 2000).…”

“…In contrast to some other video analysis systems (e.g., Mukhina, Bachurin, Lermontova, & Zefirov, 2001;Pan, Lee, & Lim, 1996;Spooner, Thomson, Hall, Morris, & Salter, 1994), EthoVision is a generic tool that can be used in a wide variety of setups and applications. There are, of course, practical limitations; however, in principle, EthoVision can be used to track animals in any situation where the animals are within sight of a camera and in a delimited and constant area that is no more than 200 times the size of the animal.…”

Comparing the EthoVision 2.3 system and a new computerized multitracking prototype system to measure the swimming behavior in fry fish

“…Thanks to the development of digital imaging techniques, a third approach in the laboratory is able to detect and measure behavioral parameters-impossible to quantify with manual recording-with precision and over long time periods (Kato, Tamada, Shimada, & Chujo, 1996;Martin, Prescott, & Zhu, 1992;Mukhina, Bachurin, Lermontova, & Zefirov, 2001;Nilsson, Rosén, & Johansson, 1993;Olivo & Thompson, 1988;Winberg, Nilsson, Spruijt, & Höglund, 1993). For example, the EthoVision system, a commercial (Noldus Information Technology) video tracking device, was developed to measure three elements: behaviors that occur briefly and are then interspersed with long periods of inaction, behaviors that occur over many hours, and spatial measurements (e.g., distance moved, moving velocity, radial speed, or time spent in different zones of an arena) , 2002Spink, Tegelenbosch, Buma, & Noldus, 2001).…”

An outdoor 3-D visual tracking system for the study of spatial navigation and memory in rhesus monkeys

“…The 3-D tracking system addresses the challenges of outdoor tracking by leveraging an algorithm that adapts to lighting changes, whereas automated tracking in water mazes has been limited to 2-D tracking in a laboratory setting (Hval, Barrett, Wilcox, & Bailey, 2004;Mukhina, Bachurin, Lermontova, & Zefirov, 2001;Noldus, Spink, & Tegelenbosch, 2001). The outdoor setting presents substantial challenges due to natural variations in lighting, reflections, and shadows.…”