Blog posts written by Steffen van Heijningen
06 Oct
animal behavior research
Zebrafish Research
Tracking tiny transparent fish with EthoVision XT
Danionella cerebrum, a recently discovered cyprinid fish, has the smallest known vertebrate brain. What are the behavioral differences or similarities to their zebrafish relatives?
22 Sep
animal behavior research
Learning and Memory
Using video tracking to study operant behavior in rodents
What is operant behavior? And how can we use software such as EthoVision XT to increase our understanding in the learning and memory processes involved in these studies?
24 Aug
animal behavior research
Social Behavior
The social interaction test: effortless and dependable with EthoVision XT
What is the social interaction test? This blog dives into this topic for fish and rodents. Why is social interaction important to measure, and how do we go about doing it?
28 Jul
animal behavior research
Learning and Memory
Guest blog: Having a look at operant behavior
Scientists from Idorsia Pharmaceuticals in Switzerland provide an expert view on operant behavior, and how we can improve our understanding of this complex behavior with the help of video tracking.
13 Jul
animal behavior research
Zebrafish Research
Behavioral neuroscience in the circular economy: the contribution of Zebrafish
What do Zebrafish and sewage sludge have in common? In this blog their use as a screening tool is highlighted to asses the ecotoxicity in soil.
06 Apr
animal behavior research
Anxiety, Depression and Fear
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
23 Feb
animal behavior research
Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
What is the Barnes maze? A dry-land environment for testing learning and memory
The Barnes maze is a behavioral paradigm for testing learning and memory in rodents models for autism spectrum disorder, Alzheimer’s disease and ageing. How does it compare to the Morris water maze?
01 Dec
animal behavior research
Zebrafish Research
Citizen science in research: studying contaminated drinking water with zebrafish
Local residents, students and scientists joined forces to investigate harmful contaminants in drinking water wells in New England. Behavioral effects of these contaminants were studied in zebrafish.
17 Nov
animal behavior research
Learning and Memory
Advancing the novel object test: 3D printing and deep learning
To improve standardisation and consistency in the novel object test, Spry et al designed the 'CapTouch' system: capacative objects that can automatically register interaction. But what about deep learning in EthoVision XT?
03 Nov
animal behavior research
Social Behavior
Using the Observer XT to measure aggressive behavior in Dolphins
The Observer XT is often used in the field to score complex ethograms. This blog touches upon a study of the 'Wild Dolphin Project' that investigates aggresive behavior between two species of dolphins.