Medical software SHUTAVOID

visualizationanalysisacquisition

Presentation
SHUTAVOID software is an implemented version of the BIOSEB SHUTTLE-8 software offering a user-friendly interface to conduct active and passive avoidance procedures in an automated manner. The software controls independently up to 8 Shuttle Boxes or Passive Cages, detects how many cages are physically present and activates the corresponding windows. The system includes a Test mode to enable immediate and reliable checking of the functioning of all elements of the experimental chamber.

Operating principle
The program controls the presentation of visual and acoustic stimuli and shock duration while recording the position of the experimental animal in each compartment of the experimental cage and deciding stimuli presentation accordingly. Unlimited numbers of schedules can be defined and used for common or different experimental cages. The protocol editor allows configuration of basic parameters for active and passive avoidance experiments: habituation period, duration of the inter-trial interval (fixed or randomized), activation and duration of the conditioned stimulus (light, sound or both), activation, latency and duration of the unconditioned stimulus (electrical shock), latency for considering the response as "null", door status (open/closed), number of trials, cut-off time for response, etc. Chambers can be defined as Independent (classical active avoidance), Master or Slaves (yoked procedures). The program runs automatically when the animal is detected in the cage (independently for each cage). During acquisition, protocol state, animal position and current data can be visualized for each cage on the corresponding control window. Data related to observed animal responses are stored in result files and can be opened and re-analysed to generate ASCII-coded reports summarised per trial or groups of trials (user-defined).

Parameters Measured

• Number and latency of conditioned responses (active avoidance)
• Number and latency of unconditioned responses (active avoidance)
• Number and latency of null responses (active avoidance)
• Number and latency of responses during intertrial (active avoidance)
• Number of compartment crossings during the inter-trial interval (active avoidance)
• Mean of the responses latencies (active avoidance)
• Latency to enter into the black compartment (passive avoidance)

Domains of application

• LEARNING AND MEMORY:
  
  • Learning disabilities associated with aging
  • Alzheimer’s disease and brain damages
  • Huntington's disease
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Parkinson's disease
  • HIV-related studies
  • Studies about learning and memory neurobiological mechanisms
  • Learning and memory abilities in response to drug administration

Key features

• Allows editing protocols for both active and passive avoidance
• Experimental chambers can be controlled independently
• Test mode enables immediate and reliable box checking
• New configuration panel for Yoked procedures
• Program runs automatically when the animal is detected in the cage
• Animal position and current data can be visualized on-line
• ASCII files with recorded data
• Re-analysis of data in user-defined intervals of time

Caractéristiques / spécifications techniques

• Commercial name: SHUTAVOID software
• Controls up to 8 Shuttle Boxes or Passive Cages independently
• Automatic detection of physically connected cages and activation of corresponding control windows
• Includes a Test mode for box and element verification
• Protocol editor configurable for: habituation period; inter-trial interval (fixed or randomized); conditioned stimulus (light/sound/both) activation and duration; unconditioned stimulus (electrical shock) activation, latency and duration; latency threshold for "null" responses; door status; number of trials; cut-off time for response
• Chamber modes: Independent, Master, Slave (yoked)
• Automatic run when animal detected; independent operation per cage
• Real-time visualization of protocol state, animal position and current data per cage
• Data output: result files in ASCII format; files can be re-opened and re-analysed to generate trial or grouped-trial reports
• Reference code shown on product page: SHUTAVOID