The automated mouse reaching chamber allows researchers to simultaneously measure motor behavior, cognitive processing and motivation. The two chamber design allows you to test two animals at the same time. Use the 80875 Home Cage Training Hopper to facilitate training. Most labs add the 86060 Counter with Digital Display for a simple count of reach attempts. However, the counter could be connected to an AWM Interface for placing reach attempts in time bins, or the photo beams could be connected directly to an ABET Interface Package to time stamp and count reach events. With the chamber divider removed, and additional stimulus lamps, feeders etc. the reach task could be combined with a learned alternation task under ABET program control.
Motor Behavior: Skilled forepaw reaching behaviors are required to retrieve pellets from the food hopper.
Cognitive Processing: Two reaching holes on opposite walls allow researchers to alternate baited and non-baited hoppers within or between trials.
Motivation: Latency measures from chamber introduction to the first reach attempt indicates motivation to retrieve pellets.