How do I expand my PhenoTyper setup?

You can choose based on the experiment you want to automate, from the arrangement of the walls to the devises that attach to them. Whether it is a tether that attaches to your subject via a commutator or a 3rd party measuring device, PhenoTyper integrates it all. The walls accommodate attachments for a number of accessories, such as a feeding station, drinking bottles, CognitionWall, and shelters.

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Feeding and drinking behavior

Pellet dispenser

  • Essential tools for reinforcement-based conditioning tasks
  • Capable of delivering food pelletes on command
  • Provides feedback on pellet drop and silo status
  • Fully compatible with EthoVision XT for sophisticated, interactive test protocols
  • Includes interchangeable 20mg and 40mg pellet carousels, color-coded for easy swapping between experiments

Lick o Meter

  • Technology differs from conventional methods that require an electrical circuit involving the animal
  • Detects contact with the water bottle spout through capacitance changes between the spout and a metal plate
  • Integrates lickometer data with other data types, such as video tracking, within EthoVision XT

Mouse Feeding Monitor (MFM)

  • Low-cost, easy-to-clean, and reliable solution for monitoring mouse interactions with a stainless-steel feeder
  • Utilizes a beam break mechanism to record interaction duration and frequency, correlating with food disappearance
  • Connects to EthoVision XT for data collection and analysis, allowing integration with tracking data

How to customize your PhenoTyper

There is no one PhenoTyper, only your PhenoTyper

PhenoTyper 2 is very customizable to your research: Its simple plastic wall design can easily be adapted to accommodate any DIY or 3rd party device. Many walls are already available from simple novel cage testing to home cage environment and operant conditioning setups!

Cage enrichment and physical activity

Shelters

  • Provides standard shelters suitable for rats and mice, with options for both dark and light coat colors
  • Shelters can be fixed in a cage corner and monitored with EthoVision XT for visit counts, stay duration, and detecting animals on top
  • An IR translucent model allows observation of animals inside the shelter

Phenowheel for mice

  • Tracks each rotation a mouse makes in the running wheel and measures time spent and revolutions.
  • Connects to the I/O box for seamless data integration with EthoVision XT
  • Attaches easily to a PhenoTyper wall and is simple to clean

Activity wheel for rats

  • Running wheel attached outside a PhenoTyper cage with access controlled by a drop-down door
  • Equipped with an electronic brake offering nine resistance levels and an LCD counter display
  • PhenoCounter module counts rotations, using a magnet sensor, and sends data to EthoVision XT

Live calcium imaging and integrations

PhenoTyper 2 is especially well suited for experiments with tethered animals. Small or large commutators can easily be integrated with its modular design. Devices to deliver optogenetic stimulation to the animal, such as a laser or LED connected to fiber optics, can easily be connected to or built-into the PhenoTyper 2 top unit. A special camera module is equipped with a hole to easily pass through thethers and other add-ons.

Stimulation can be programmed and controlled from EthoVision XT’s trial and hardware control module. It goes without saying that the behavioral changes in your animal during or after the optogenetic stimuli can be detected with our EthoVision XT tracking and analysis software.

video, brain visualization, track and heatmap of a calcium imaging experiment.

CognitionWall

top view of mouse moving through CognitionWall

The CognitionWall™ is an add-on developed for PhenoTyper home cages by Sylics. It is designed for operant cognitive tests in a home cage environment in combination with AHCODA™ data analysis software.

The wall contains three entrances and is placed in front of a reward dispenser (in one of the corners) of a PhenoTyper home cage. Animals receive a food reward when they enter through the ‘correct’ entrance. CognitionWall tests are video-tracked, programmed, and controlled with EthoVision XT video tracking software.

AHCODA is a data analysis service, developed by Sylics, that converts your raw EthoVision XT tracking data from PhenoTyper home cage tests into readily interpretable data sets.

Why should I use PhenoTyper?

Introducing PhenoTyper to your lab makes performing research a lot easier. This one system can be used for a myriad of tests, and the uniform design of the cages increases repeatability and robustness of your experiments.

What can I use PhenoTyper for?

PhenoTyper has been used in a great variety of studies, from long-term homecage observations to short behavioral tests and optogenetics. Do you want to know more about how What you can achieve with PhenoTyper? Then, follow the link below.

How do I use PhenoTyper?

If PhenoTyper is the body, than EthoVision XT is the brain. PhenoTyper is fully programmable by EthoVision, which limits the interactions the animals have with technicians and researchers. Read more about how to use PhenoTyper on the methodology page.

Learn more about PhenoTyper

Because of its customizability, the PhenoTyper is a great fit for many types of behavioral research. Many researchers have gone before you and have made great use of the PhenoTyper in a wide variety of behavioral research applications.

Ready to take the next step?

We’re passionate about helping you achieve your research goals. Let’s discuss your project and find the tools that fit.

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