Video-based Behavior Analysis Research Articles

A Novel Approach to Increase Attention during Mirror Therapy among Stroke Patients: A Video-Based Behavioral Analysis.

Stroke is a major cause of disability and an evident rehabilitation strategy is crucial. Mirror therapy (MT) is one of the popular rehabilitation methods that is known to be effective as the patients benefit from the mirror illusion. However, the patient’s attention to the mirror illusion during treatment is unclear. Therefore, the present study assesses the duration and frequency of the mirror gaze, distraction, and preparation of sixteen stroke patients during two MT methods using a behavioral coding software. During the 30 min treatment, the total mirror gaze duration during conventional bilateral MT (BMT) was 564.04 s, while it was 1482.45 s in unilateral MT using a screen (UMT). The total distracted time was 945.61 s in BMT, while it was only 162.03 s in UMT. The total preparatory duration was 290.35 s in BMT and 155.53 s in UMT. The total number of distracted bouts were 136.45 in BMT, while it was 73.38 in UMT. The total number of preparatory bouts were 18.42 in BMT and 9.56 in UMT. The average times of gaze duration per bout were 5.52 s in BMT and 21.81 s in UMT. The average times of distraction per bout were 9.22 s in BMT and 3.00 s in UMT. The total number of mirror gaze bouts and average time of preparation per bout did not present a statistical significance in the comparisons of the two methods. This study assesses two methods of MT using observational coding software to evaluate the duration and frequency of the mirror gaze during treatment. The results suggest that UMT may be an alternative option to provide MT for stroke patients to increase their attention towards the mirror.

Capturing violence in the night-time economy: A review of established and emerging methodologies

Abstract Night-time economy (NTE) leisure zones, while providing local economic growth and positive social experiences, are hotspots for urban public violence. Research aimed at better understanding and thus reducing this violence has employed a range of empirical methods: official records, self-reports, experiments, and observational techniques. In this paper, we review the applications of these methodologies for analyzing NTE violence on key research dimensions, including mapping incidents across time and space; interpreting the motivations and meaning of violence; identifying social psychological background variables and health consequences; and the ability to examine mid-violent interactions. Further, we assess each method in terms of reliability, validity, and the potential for establishing causal claims. We demonstrate that there are fewer and less established methodologies available for examining the interactional dynamics of NTE violence. Using real-life NTE bystander intervention as a case example, we argue that video-based behavioral analysis is a promising method to address this gap. Given the infancy and relative lack of exposure of the video observational method, we provide recommendations for scholars interested in adopting this technique.

Usability testing on game interface design using video-based behavior analysis

The objective of this study is to quantitatively incorporate user observation into usability evaluation of game interface design. In this study, an experiment was conducted to monitor and record users' behavior using built in video-cam. The experiment was done after the user play “A Garuda” game. All the character movement controlled by user were captured and recorded for comparative analysis. There were about 20 people involved as a subject for this experiment. The data from video recordings were coded with Noldus Observer XT in order to find usage patterns and thus to gather quantitative data for analyzing the GUI effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction. The result of user's interaction towards the design of game's GUI able to give additional information for the game designer to develop a better responsive game toward its usability. The effect of user's control and emotion that can be seen from user's face will give the information needed to be considered in game development. Previous studies mostly focusing on evaluating the usability with performance measures by only looking at task results. Thus, at the end of this study, a method is proposed by incorporating user observation into usability evaluation of game design interfaces.

Acute Administration of the Nonpathogenic, Saprophytic Bacterium, Mycobacterium vaccae, Induces Activation of Serotonergic Neurons in the Dorsal Raphe Nucleus and Antidepressant-Like Behavior in Association with Mild Hypothermia.

Peripheral immune activation can have profound physiologic and behavioral effects. One mechanism through which immune activation may affect physiology and behavior is through actions on brainstem neuromodulatory systems, such as serotonergic systems. To test this hypothesis, in Experiment 1, adult male BALB/c mice were implanted with telemetric recording devices and then immunized with Mycobacterium vaccae NCTC 11659 (0.1mg, s.c.; Days -28, -14; N=36). On Day 1, mice received an acute challenge with M. vaccae (0.1mg, s.c.) or borate-buffered saline vehicle. Core body temperature and locomotor activity recordings were conducted during a 36h period beginning 24h prior to challenge; 12h following acute challenge, mice were either tested in a 6-min forced swim test, or served as home cage controls (n=9 per group). In Experiment 2, the protocol was repeated, but with the aim of assessing c-Fos expression in brainstem serotonergic neurons, assessed 90min following exposure to forced swim (N=32; n=8 per group). In Experiment 1, acute M. vaccae challenge in M. vaccae-immunized mice, relative to vehicle-challenged controls, decreased locomotor activity and core body temperature measured 3h following challenge, as measured by continuous telemetric recordings, and decreased immobility in the forced swim test measured 12h following challenge. In Experiment 2, acute M. vaccae challenge in M. vaccae-immunized mice decreased home cage locomotion, in alignment with findings in Experiment 1, as measured by video-based behavioral analysis, and, among mice exposed to the forced swim test, increased c-Fos expression in subsets of serotonergic neurons within the dorsal raphe nucleus (DR) measured 13.5h following challenge. Together, these data are consistent with the hypothesis that acute peripheral immune activation with a heat-killed preparation of M. vaccae transiently induces mild hypothermia in association with suppression of locomotor activity, activates subsets of serotonergic neurons in the DR, and induces antidepressant-like behavioral responses.

Ghrelin, peptide YY and their hypothalamic targets differentially regulate spontaneous physical activity

Recent studies suggest that spontaneous physical activity (SPA) may be under the non-conscious control of neuroendocrine circuits that are known to control food intake. To further elucidate endocrine gut–brain communication as a component of such circuitry, we here analyzed long-term and acute effects of the gastrointestinal hormones ghrelin and PYY 3-36 as well as their hypothalamic neuropeptide targets NPY, AgRP and POMC (alpha-MSH), on locomotor activity and home cage behaviors in rats. For the analysis of SPA, we used an automated infrared beam break activity measuring system, combined with a novel automated video-based behavior analysis system (HomeCageScan (HCS)). Chronic (one-month) peripheral infusion of ghrelin potently increased body weight and fat mass in rats. Such positive energy balance was intriguingly not due to an overall increased caloric ingestion, but was predominantly associated with a decrease in SPA. Chronic intracerebroventricular infusion (7 days) of ghrelin corroborated the decrease in SPA and suggested a centrally mediated mechanism. Central administration of AgRP and NPY increased food intake as expected. AgRP administration led to a delayed decrease in SPA, while NPY acutely (but transiently) increased SPA. Behavioral dissection using HCS corroborated the observed acute and transient increases of food intake and SPA by central NPY infusion. Acute central administration of alpha-MSH rapidly decreased food intake but did not change SPA. Central administration of the NPY receptor agonist PYY 3-36 transiently increased SPA. Our data suggest that the control of spontaneous physical activity by gut hormones or their neuropeptide targets may represent an important mechanistic component of energy balance regulation.

Palatable Meal Anticipation in Mice

The ability to sense time and anticipate events is a critical skill in nature. Most efforts to understand the neural and molecular mechanisms of anticipatory behavior in rodents rely on daily restricted food access, which induces a robust increase of locomotor activity in anticipation of daily meal time. Interestingly, rats also show increased activity in anticipation of a daily palatable meal even when they have an ample food supply, suggesting a role for brain reward systems in anticipatory behavior, and providing an alternate model by which to study the neurobiology of anticipation in species, such as mice, that are less well adapted to “stuff and starve” feeding schedules. To extend this model to mice, and exploit molecular genetic resources available for that species, we tested the ability of wild-type mice to anticipate a daily palatable meal. We observed that mice with free access to regular chow and limited access to highly palatable snacks of chocolate or “Fruit Crunchies” avidly consumed the snack but did not show anticipatory locomotor activity as measured by running wheels or video-based behavioral analysis. However, male mice receiving a snack of high fat chow did show increased food bin entry prior to access time and a modest increase in activity in the two hours preceding the scheduled meal. Interestingly, female mice did not show anticipation of a daily high fat meal but did show increased activity at scheduled mealtime when that meal was withdrawn. These results indicate that anticipation of a scheduled food reward in mice is behavior, diet, and gender specific.

Performance Comparison of Manual and Touch Interface using Video-based Behavior Analysis

The objective of this study is to quantitatively incorporate user observation into usability evaluation of mobile interfaces using monitoring techniques in first- and third-person points of view. In this study, an experiment was conducted to monitor and record users' behavior using Ergoneers Dikablis, a gaze tracking device. The experiment was done with 2 mobile phones each with a button keypad interface and a touchscreen interface for comparative analysis. The subjects included 20 people who have similar experiences and proficiency in using mobile devices. Data from video recordings were coded with Noldus Observer XT to find usage patterns and to gather quantitative data for analysis in terms of effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction. Results showed that the button keypad interface was generally better than the touchcreen interface. The movements of the fingers and gaze were much simpler when performing given tasks on the button keypad interface. While previous studies have mostly evaluated usability with performance measures by only looking at task results, this study can be expected to contribute by suggesting a method in which the behavioral patterns of interaction is evaluated.