Animal Research

The Ultimate Intra/Extra-Dimensional (ID-ED) Attentional Set-Shifting Task for Mice Attentional set shifting is a measure of cognitive flexibility and executive functions, which refers to the ability to switch between arbitrary internal rules; similar tasks for rodents are currently limited due to their manual-based testing procedures and they are hampering translational advances in psychiatric medicine. This novel ID/ED Operon task is an effective preclinical tool for drug testing and large genetic relevant screenings to study the executive dysfunctions and cognitive symptoms of psychiatric disorders! The instrument is composed of two compartments, divided by an automated sliding door, with an operant wall mounted on each side; this includes 3 automated tridimensional stimulators (visual, odor and texture), left and right, with 2 nose pokes and a pellet dispenser in the middle for the reward. We have designed an innovative Revolver System which provides automated tactile stimulation and an Odor Delivery System which provides 10 different odors in 2 independent channels. A dedicated version of ANY-maze software automatically manages all the Operon tools following a precompiled protocol and collects the data.