Identifying reliable traits across laboratory mouse exploration arenas: A meta-analysis

Michael Galsworthy,Hans-Peter Lipp,Rime Madani

doi:10.1038/npre.2012.6981.1

Michael Galsworthy, Hans-Peter Lipp + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/npre.2012.6981.1

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Abstract

AbstractThis study is a meta-analysis of 367 mice from a collection of behaviour neuroscience and behaviour genetic studies run in the same lab in Zurich, Switzerland. We employed correlation-based statistics to confirm and quantify consistencies in behaviour across the testing environments. All 367 mice ran exactly the same behavioural arenas: the light/dark box, the null maze, the open field arena, an emergence task and finally an object exploration task. We analysed consistency of three movement types across those arenas (resting, scanning, progressing), and their relative preference for three zones of the arenas (home, transition, exploration). Results were that 5/6 measures showed strong individual-differences consistency across the tests. Mean inter-arena correlations for these five measures ranged from +.12 to +.53. Unrotated principal component factor analysis (UPCFA) and Cronbach’s alpha measures showed these traits to be reliable and substantial (32-63% of variance across the five arenas). UPCFA loadings then indicate which tasks give the best information about these cross-task traits. One measure (that of time spent in “intermediate” zones) was not reliable across arenas. Conclusions centre on the use of individual differences research and behavioural batteries to revise understandings of what measures in one task predict for behaviour in others. Developing better behaviour measures also makes sound scientific and ethical sense.

Highlights

This study explores the consistency in individual differences for same set of behavioural measures across five different exploratory arenas
This paper explored the potential existence of stable individual differences in exploratory traits across differing arenas
Conclusions are that very consistent individual differences can be seen both in the movement type of the mouse when exploring a novel arena, and in their willingness to venture from the safest parts of the arena

Summary

Introduction

A field that could perhaps be best described as ‘mouse psychometrics’ has barely existed to date, the use of correlation-based research across individuals or strains has recently received much interest from mouse behaviourists (Galsworthy et al, 2002, 2005; Wahlsten et al, 2003; Locurto et al, 2003; Matzel et al, 2003, 2006). Factor analytic approaches have been used in laboratory mouse behaviour analysis to examine the variable relationships within cognitive tasks (Lipp & Wolfer, 1998), between cognitive tasks (Galsworthy et al, 2002; Locurto et al, 2003; Matzel et al, 2003), within exploratory tasks (Rodgers & Johnson, 1995; Wall & Messier, 2000), and between different exploratory/ activity tasks (Mill et al, 2002) Factors such as cognitive performance show low correlations across tasks, so when the motivations and demands are diverse (Galsworthy et al, 2005).

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