Testing for anxiety

Abstract

Various test paradigms have been developed to assess behavioral parameters indicating anxiety in rodents. Tests for anxiety in rodents are suggested to be valuable tools in determining the implication of genetic factors within the whole complexity of behavior and are specifically valuable in identifying the profile of anxiety-related behavior in these animals. Additionally, these tests have been described as being useful for assessing the behavioral impact of drugs designed to affect aspects of anxiety. In this article, species-specific behavioral expressions related to anxiety in rodents will be described and their use to increase the reliability and sensitivity of tests for anxiety will be discussed. Further, some well-established and widely available tests for anxiety, such as the elevated plus maze or the dark/light box, will be described. As it has been hypothesized that behavioral patterns displayed in tests for either unconditioned or conditioned anxiety may reflect different aspects of anxiety, some examples of the latter will be given. Finally, novel approaches to investigate behavior in rodents in a more complex manner, such as the modified hole board, will be introduced.