Designing a chamber for studies involving manipulation of light:dark cycles

Abstract

The authors designed and built a device that can house mice or rats and allow researchers to control the light:dark cycles inside. They developed this chamber for neuroscientists who are studying the condition-dependent plasticity of the mouse visual cortex. The chamber, which (when closed) completely blocks outside light, consists of two units. Each unit can hold eight small mouse cages or six rat cages. Each unit contains an optical sensor that triggers an audible and visual alarm when light is detected. Researchers can monitor the environmental conditions inside each unit using a control panel located outside the unit. Researchers have reported that this chamber is ideal for use in their work involving manipulations of light:dark cycles.