Automatic segmentation of mouse behavior during video track-ing in home cagesA.B. Cherepov, T.V. Mukhina and K.V. AnokhinDepartment of Systemogenesis, P.K. Anokhin Institute of Normal Physiology, Moscow, RussiaA common approach to analysis of behavior recorded by video tracking systems employs characteristics like animal speed, moved distance, latencies to enter certain zones, times spent there etc. These parameters only indirectly reflect the organization of complex behavioral patterns and their dynamics during learning. To overcome this limitation we developed a novel approach to quantitative segmentation of animal behavior by automatic dissection of behavioral continuum into meaningful behavioral units. Our approach is based on the theory of functional systems (P.K. Anokhin 1935-1973) which segments behavior into similarly organized elementary functional units behavioral quanta. As a first approximation to such segmentation we searched for main breaks of movement continuum (complete stops in animal motion), using the running median algorithm introduced by D. Drai et al. However, analysis of video records of animal behavior after such coarse segmentation reveals minor behavioral acts (e.g. turning, running, and rearing) that are often located within the obtained large segments. Therefore we introduced additional criteria for automatic recognition of behavioral breakpoints:
Paper presented at Measuring Behavior 2005 , 5th International Conference on Methods and Techniques in Behavioral Research, 30 August - 2 September 2005, Wageningen, The Netherlands. © 2005 Noldus Information Technology bv |