We have created a low cost (<$150) operant training box, using open source tools and software. Operant training is a highly valuable form of behavioral testing that can assay motivation, impulsiveness, anxiety, depression, addiction, and many other behavioral processes. Unfortunately, most commerical suppliers provide chambers that cost on the order of $5-10K per chamber, once all software and hardware is accounted for. This is prohibitively expensive for many researchers, so we would like to develop a low cost solution that will allow our selves, our collaborators, and any other interested researchers access to this form of behavioral testing. In the past year, we have finalized design of our operant chamber, begun testing it for training mice on operant responding for food, and published a first paper outlining how to build this device. In the current year, we are preparing a new version of the device that is based around a pellet dispenser, and can be used to regulate feeding in laboratory mice, as well as investigate operant behavior. We are currently preparing a manuscript on the new version as well.

Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
Budget End
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
U.S. National Inst Diabetes/Digst/Kidney
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
State
Country
Zip Code
Ali, Mohamed A; Kravitz, Alexxai V (2018) Challenges in quantifying food intake in rodents. Brain Res 1693:188-191
Nguyen, Katrina P; Ali, Mohamed A; O'Neal, Timothy J et al. (2017) Feeding Experimentation Device (FED): Construction and Validation of an Open-source Device for Measuring Food Intake in Rodents. J Vis Exp :
Nguyen, Katrina P; O'Neal, Timothy J; Bolonduro, Olurotimi A et al. (2016) Feeding Experimentation Device (FED): A flexible open-source device for measuring feeding behavior. J Neurosci Methods 267:108-14
Devarakonda, Kavya; Nguyen, Katrina P; Kravitz, Alexxai V (2015) ROBucket: A low cost operant chamber based on the Arduino microcontroller. Behav Res Methods :
Kravitz, Alexxai V; Owen, Scott F; Kreitzer, Anatol C (2013) Optogenetic identification of striatal projection neuron subtypes during in vivo recordings. Brain Res 1511:21-32
Kravitz, Alexxai V; Tye, Lynne D; Kreitzer, Anatol C (2012) Distinct roles for direct and indirect pathway striatal neurons in reinforcement. Nat Neurosci 15:816-8
Kravitz, Alexxai V; Kreitzer, Anatol C (2012) Striatal mechanisms underlying movement, reinforcement, and punishment. Physiology (Bethesda) 27:167-77