Operant techniques have been extensively used in behavioural pharmacology and behavioural neuroscience since they offer precise control over behaviour, allowing quantitative assessment of the effects of an experimental manipulation. The availability of a vast literature characterising behaviour on many different operant schedules allows the consequences of the experimental manipulation to be readily interpreted. Furthermore, the experimenter is readily able to manipulate the behavioural contingencies, thus allowing detailed analysis of the sensitivity of the experimental manipulation to changes in reinforcement schedule, to the provision of discrete and contextual cues. Such an exquisite control over experimental conditions offers major advantages for the precise analysis of behavioural changes.

Recently, with the advent of transgenic technology, most easily applicable to mice, there has developed a need for operant models for use with this species. Although operant equipment for mice has been available for some years, it has not been widely used, partly because it was not very suitable for this species, being simply scaled down from rat equipment. As a result, a laboratory myth developed that mice were unable to learn lever pressing as an operant response, and that the use of a hole-poke operant did not conform to the general descriptive laws of operant behaviour derived from other species. Several manufacturers now supply specialist mouse equipment, with levers sensitive enough for mice to operate, or with alternative manipulanda such as nose-poke detectors.

Although experience with mouse operant techniques is not as extensive as that with rats, it has become clear that mice perform operant tasks readily. The presentation will show data from mice performing complex schedules such as differential reinforcement of low rates of responding, and compare such data with that from rats. The application of operant methodology to study cognitive functions, and in studies of drug abuse will be will be described.

© 2000 Noldus Information Technology b.v.