Activity as a readout parameter for neurobehavioral research and severity assessment in laboratory rodents: a systematic comparison and meta-analysis of measurement techniques
Scientific Reports, vol. 16
Abstract
Despite the widespread use of locomotion and activity analyses in neurobehavioral research and severity assessment, comparative evidence on the sensitivity and informative value of available monitoring techniques remains limited. Our study addresses these gaps by systematically evaluating activity data from multiple techniques across different interventions and disease models. The meta-analysis of datasets from the DFG FOR2591 consortium assessed how horizontal activity and locomotion change following surgical procedures, during stress paradigms, and in non-genetic and genetic disease models. Invasive interventions consistently resulted in post-surgical declines in activity, while neurological and psychiatric models were associated either with hypo- or hyperlocomotion, highlighting the bidirectional nature of activity alterations. A comparative evaluation of the techniques revealed that continuous home-cage telemetry and video-based tracking during the dark phase were more sensitive than clinical scoring systems, Neuroscores, or Open field tests. Voluntary wheel running emerged as the most informative of the alternatives. The analysis supports the integration of automated, continuous monitoring technologies to overcome the limitations of traditional daytime and observer-dependent methods. Since horizontal activity and locomotion have proven to be valuable readout parameters for most interventions and disease models, it is recommended that a sensitive analysis be integrated into multidimensional approaches to severity assessment.
Authors 19
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Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians- Universität München, Munich, Germany
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Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians- Universität München, Munich, Germany
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Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians- Universität München, Munich, Germany
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Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians- Universität München, Munich, Germany
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Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine
Affiliation as printed
Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Department of Preclinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Hanover, Germany
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Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
Affiliation as printed
Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
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Heidelberg University · Central Institute of Mental Health · Medizinische Fakultät Mannheim
Affiliation as printed
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, RG Animal Models in Psychiatry, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
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Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
Affiliation as printed
Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
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Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
Affiliation as printed
Experimental Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
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Universitätsmedizin Rostock · University of Rostock
Affiliation as printed
Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock, Germany
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Ute Lindauer Aachen Translational Neurosurgery and Neurobiology Department of Neurosurgery Faculty of Medicine
Affiliation as printed
Translational Neurosurgery and Neurobiology, Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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Heidelberg University · Central Institute of Mental Health · Medizinische Fakultät Mannheim
Affiliation as printed
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, RG Animal Models in Psychiatry, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
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Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
Affiliation as printed
Experimental Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
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Leonie Tix Aachen Institute for Laboratory Animal Science and Experimental Surgery Faculty of Medicine
Affiliation as printed
Institute for Laboratory Animal Science & Experimental Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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Rene Hany Tolba Aachen Institute for Laboratory Animal Science and Experimental Surgery Faculty of Medicine
Affiliation as printed
Institute for Laboratory Animal Science & Experimental Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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Laura Warner Aachen Translational Neurosurgery and Neurobiology Department of Neurosurgery Faculty of Medicine
Affiliation as printed
Translational Neurosurgery and Neurobiology, Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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Universitätsmedizin Rostock · University of Rostock
Affiliation as printed
Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock, Germany
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Universitätsmedizin Rostock · University of Rostock
Affiliation as printed
Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock, Germany
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Heidrun Potschka corresponding
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians- Universität München, Munich, Germany. potschka@pharmtox.vetmed.uni-muenchen.de
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