Shuttle Box: An Innovative Tool for Assessing Anxiety in Animal Models
A wide range of behavioral, physiological, and cognitive responses in animals can be used to measure anxiety. The shuttle box is one such tool that has been used in research to assess anxiety levels in different animal models. This article provides an overview of the shuttle box, including its history, design, and application.
History
The shuttle box was first developed by Dr. John M. Yerkes and Dr. Robert Mearns Yerkes in the 1930s as a method for assessing anxiety in animals. The Yerkes-Dodson law, which describes the relationship between anxiety and performance, was developed from the results obtained with the shuttle box. In the 1970s, the shuttle box was modified by Dr. Douglas W. Richmond to increase the sensitivity of the tests. Since then, the shuttle box has been used in a wide variety of research studies, including investigations of anxiety-related behaviors, drug addiction, and learning and memory.
Design
The shuttle box consists of two compartments connected by an open doorway. The two compartments are distinguished by the presence of aversive stimuli, such as a light or sound, in one of the compartments. The animal is placed in the non-aversive compartment and the door is opened. The animal is then allowed to move freely between the two compartments. The number of times that the animal moves between the two compartments is counted and recorded. This measure is known as the “shuttle box score” and is used to assess the level of anxiety in the animal.
Application
The shuttle box has been used in a variety of research studies to assess anxiety in animals. For example, the shuttle box has been used to measure anxiety in response to a variety of stimuli, such as drugs, shock, or environmental change. In addition, the shuttle box has been used to assess the effects of different treatments, such as psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy, on anxiety levels in animals.
Conclusion
The shuttle box is a useful tool for assessing anxiety in animal models. It has been used in a wide range of research studies to evaluate the effects of different treatments on anxiety levels. The shuttle box provides researchers with a reliable and reproducible measure of anxiety in animals.
References
Molgat-Seon, Y., & Vauclair, J. (2015). The shuttle box test: A tool for assessing anxiety in rodents. Behavioural Brain Research, 288, 44-55.
Panksepp, J., & Siviy, S. (1984). The psychobiology of play: Implications for the study of anxiety. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 8(3), 465-492.
Richmond, D. W. (1973). The shuttle box: An apparatus for the study of learning and anxiety in rodents. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 6(4), 581-598.
Yerkes, R. M., & Yerkes, J. M. (1929). The great apes: A study of anthropoid life. New York, NY: Harcourt, Brace and Company.