![Replacing rodents with insects in behavioral testing flies-fst](https://www.noldus.com/static/images/core-blog/flies-fst-1698136586.jpg)
Replacing rodents with insects in behavioral testing
In this blog we delve into the use of flies as a new perspective for behavioral testing. How do they compare to rodents? And can conventional rodent tests be adapted to insects?
![Diving deeper: Obesity and Anxiety, a scientific perspective fish-anxiety-obesity](https://www.noldus.com/static/images/core-blog/fish-anxiety-obesity-1692865471.jpg)
Diving deeper: Obesity and Anxiety, a scientific perspective
It seems that there is a relationship between poor mental health and obesity. But the exact reasoning is far from clear. Animal experiments can shed light on the situation
![Early-life stress and the onset of depression later in life early-life-stress-and-the-onset-of-depression](https://www.noldus.com/static/images/core-blog/early-life stress-and-the-onset-of-depression.jpg)
Early-life stress and the onset of depression later in life
I had a chat with my old department at the University of Groningen to see what they are currently working on. Read more about their reseach into early life stress!
![What is the connection between depression and rheumatoid arthritis? rheumatoid-arthritis-and-depression](https://www.noldus.com/static/images/core-blog/rheumatoid-arthritis-and-depression-1676984025.jpg)
What is the connection between depression and rheumatoid arthritis?
Is depression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis caused only by the pain, or is something else also going on?
![3 high impact papers about measuring anxiety in the Elevated Zero Maze measuring-anxiety-elevated-zero-maze](https://www.noldus.com/static/images/core-blog/measuring-anxiety-elevated-zero-maze-1649247521.jpg)
3 high impact papers about measuring anxiety in the Elevated Zero Maze
The elevated zero maze (EZM) is a variation on the elevated plus maze (EPM) and was created to eliminate the center region of the EPM. This blog highlights 3 studies that use the EZM to test for anxiety-like behavior
![A critical view on the Forced swim test critical-view-forced-swim-test](https://www.noldus.com/static/images/core-blog/critical-view-forced-swim-test-1631790975.jpg)
A critical view on the Forced swim test
The forced swim test (FST), a staple in depression research, has been under discussion for a while. What is the FST? How is it used? And why is it under discussion? Here we share our view on this topic
![Antidepressants during pregnancy: effects on offspring social behavior antidepressants-during-pregnancy-offspring-behavior](https://www.noldus.com/static/images/core-blog/antidepressants-during-pregnancy-offspring-behavior-1585579617.jpg)
Antidepressants during pregnancy: effects on offspring social behavior
Many depressed women struggle with this: can I use antidepressants during pregnancy? The lab of Jocelien Olivier studies the effects of SSRI's on offspring behavior in an animal model.
![Depressed with a failing reward system: social stress disrupts brain waves depressed-with-failing-reward-system](https://www.noldus.com/static/images/core-blog/depressed-with-failing-reward-system-1572958955.jpg)
Depressed with a failing reward system: social stress disrupts brain waves
Chronic social stress has a huge impact on well-being. Gamma oscillations have been found to be an electrophysiological link between social stress and reward processing.
![Is a unique calcium regulating mechanism a cause of Gulf War Illness? calcium-regulating-mechanism-gulf-war-illness](https://www.noldus.com/static/images/core-blog/calcium-regulating-mechanism-gulf-war-illness-1572854356.jpg)
Is a unique calcium regulating mechanism a cause of Gulf War Illness?
Gulf War Illness (GWI) is potentially caused by organophosphate exposure. Through behavioral experiments, using a DFP rat model, researchers tested levetiracetam as a potential cure.
![How to characterize behavioral phenotypes in a behavioral analysis facility behavioral-analysis-facility-rouen](https://www.noldus.com/static/images/core-blog/behavioral-analysis-facility-rouen.jpg)
How to characterize behavioral phenotypes in a behavioral analysis facility
Introducing the Behavioral Analysis Facility. Researchers evaluate the behavioral and functional activities of new pharmacological drugs using diverse functional tests. Learn more about their recent projects.