Measuring Autism in mice with Noldus tools
Erasmus MC
Dr. Aleksandra Badura is an Associate Professor at the department of Neuroscience, and head of the lab 'Neural Networks Underlying Behavioral Flexibility' at the Erasmus MC in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Her current work focuses on understanding the cerebello-cerebral networks underlying shared autistic traits.
We spoke to Aleksandra at the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) in Washington DC about how she uses EthoVision XT to accomplish her goals in behavioral research.
Dr. Aleksandra Badura: "People who work at Noldus are not just trying to sell us the product, but help us to reach our goal in research."
"People who work at Noldus often come from an ethology or neuroscience background, but also those that don't have that behavioral background, they really come to the lab to try and understand what we need." Watch the video to hear what Dr. Badura head of the lab 'Neural Networks Underlying Behavioral Flexibility' had to say about Noldus at SfN 2023!
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Dr. Badura's research focuses on unraveling the function of the cerebellum in health and disease, with a significant portion dedicated to understanding the cerebellum's role in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Dr. Badura's work has shown that cerebellar deficits are common in ASD. Her research has established a critical period during which specific cerebellar regions are crucial for non-motor behaviors, highlighting the cerebellum's importance beyond its traditional association with motor control. This insight is vital for developing targeted therapies that could potentially mitigate some of the challenges faced by individuals with ASD.
The lab, led by Dr. Badura, for example investigates maladaptive perseverative behaviors characteristic of ASD. By employing behavioral assays, in vivo electrophysiology, virtual reality, calcium imaging, and modeling, the lab aims to uncover the mechanisms behind these behaviors. She also does this by leveraging the integration of Live Mouse Tracker (LMT) and EthoVision XT in her research to enhance the automatic tracking and analysis of social behavior in mice. This innovative tool allows for precise real-time behavioral analysis, advancing the understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism.
read more about ASD in one of our blogs!"As a PI, I have different students each year. EthoVision makes sure that the behavioral data gets analyzed exactly the same way each year."