A VIDEO IMAGE ANALYZING SYSTEM FOR OPEN-FIELD BEHAVIOR IN THE RAT FOCUSING ON BEHAVIORAL ASYMMETRIES

A video image analyzing system is presented which measures turning beh avior, thigmotactic scanning and locomotion in rats. The system works by analyzing digitized video images obtained by a black/white video ca mera. Turning behavior is expressed in different diameter classes and as partial or full turns. Thigmotactic scanning is expressed as distan ce or time locomoted with the left or right side of the body along one of the walls of the testing environment. Locomotion is measured as di stance travelled and is expressed in meters. Examples for the applicat ion of these behavioral measures are given which include: the measurem ent of spontaneous or drug-dependent behavioral asymmetries after brai n lesion (the unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine model), a unilateral periph eral manipulation (hemivibrissotomy), and the measurement of open-fiel d behavior (spontaneous or drug-induced) in intact animals. Among othe rs, these examples show that the analysis of thigmotactic scanning may provide an alternative behavioral measure, which may be especially us eful in the study of functional asymmetries.