Translational tools in measuring behavior
Date: Thursday 26 May
Time: 3:00 - 6:00 PM
Location: Goldsmith 1
Organizers: Elisavet Kyriakou (Radboud University/Tübingen University/Noldus Information Technology) Malte Lorbach (University Utrecht/Noldus IT) and Giuseppe Manfré (Radboud University/Noldus IT)
Abstract: Bridging the gap between animal model research and clinics is one of the major bottlenecks of our times. Bringing together behavioral neuroscientists working on animal models with clinical researchers studying human behavior can bring up questions that lead to fruitful discussions for tackling this issue. Developing tools that have a pure translational value and link directly human behaviours and homologous behaviours in lower animals are of great need and value. Within the EU Initial Training Network “PhenoRat” we focus on characterisation and validatation of transgenic rat models of Huntington disease (HD) and spinocerebellar ataxia type 17 (SCA17) and the development of new methods for behavioural classification. Acknowledging the explosion in the generation of animal models of genetic diseases nowadays, the development and validation of (automated) tools for qualitative and quantitative behavioral measurements is a challenge.
The symposium will cover a range of commonly studied behaviours relevant to human disease such as monitoring disease progression in home environment, anxiety, fine motor control, gait analysis and social interaction.
Presentations
3:00 - 3:20 PM Validation of Novel Tools to Analyse Behavior in a Rat Model of Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 17
Elisavet Ioanna Kyriakou1,2,3, Alex van der Starre1, Jesus Arellano Spadaro1, Johanneke E van der Harst1,2, Huu Phuc Nguyen3, Judith R Homberg1
1Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; 2Noldus Information Technology, Wageningen, The Netherlands; 3Tuebingen University, Tuebinge, Germany
3:20 - 3:40 PM Transfer Learning for Rodent Behaviour Recognition
Malte T. Lorbach1,2, Ronald Poppe1, Elsbeth A. van Dam2, Lucas P.J.J. Noldus2, Remco C. Veltkamp1
1Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands; 2Noldus Information Technology, Wageningen, The Netherlands
3:40 - 4:00 PM How to measure repetitive patterns of behavior: A translational behavioral genetic approach to Autism Spectrum Disorders
Remco T. Molenhuis1, Hilgo Bruining1,2, Petra E. Van Soldt1, Myrna Brandt1, Fuad A. Iraqi3, Richard Mott4, Martien J.H. Kas1
1Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, UMC Utrecht, The Netherlands; 2Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, UMC Utrecht, The Netherlands; 3Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel; 4UCL Genetics Institute, University College London, UK
4:00 - 4:20 PM Behavioral phenotyping of rodent models for neuropsychiatric disorders: Effects of post-weaning social isolation
Dominik Seffer, Rainer K.W. Schwarting, Markus Wöhr
Philipps-University of Marburg, Germany
4:20 - 4:40 PM The Role of the Nigrostriatal Dopamine System in Cognitive Function
Mariah Lelos
Cardiff University, United Kingdom
4:40 - 5:00 PM Behavioural assessment of a transgenic rat model for Huntington Disease – limitations of existing tools for rat phenotyping
Giuseppe Manfré1,2,3, Johanneke E. van der Harst2, Judith R. Homberg1, Huu Phuc Nguyen3
1Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; 2Noldus Information Technology BV, Wageningen, The Netherlands; 3Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
5:00 - 5:20 PM Impulsive aggression: the interrelationship between traits, SSRI efficacy and 5-HT¬1A receptor binding
Deborah Peeters1,2, Jonne Rietdijk1, Nikos Kogias1, Judith Homberg1, Robbert-Jan Verkes2
1Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen; 2Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen
5:20 - 6:00 PM Extra questions and discussion