A COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM FOR THE CONTINUOUS RECORDING AND ANALYSIS OF FEEDING, DRINKING, DIURESIS, AND LOCOMOTOR-ACTIVITY

A system has been designed to study the intake of liquids and solid fo ods in rats that allows for the analysis of feeding and drinking episo des over time. In addition, it monitors locomotor activity and diuresi s. This system is particularly useful for the study of the differentia l effects of drugs on various parameters of feeding and drinking. Beca use it allows for the monitoring of all behaviors for periods of 24 co nsecutive hours without disturbing the animals, it can be applied to t he study of light/dark cycles of ingestive behavior. The apparatus con sists of rat cages (equipped with photocells, bottles, electronic bala nces, and a funnel to collect urine), computer interfaces, an AT-compa tible microcomputer for data collection, and a VAX system for analysis .