Shuttle Box Test Packages

Several modular shuttle box packages are offered in this section for avoidance and learned helplessness studies. Each features the modular shuttle chamber (ENV-010MC) with a single center panel designed to hold a stimulus light and tone stimulus. A two-panel end wall is available in the dual channel modular shuttle box (ENV-010MD). This does not change the dimensions of the chamber itself. The same modular box is used for rats and mice, the only difference being the floor and height of the photo-beam sensors changes. The shuttle box can be purchased with a pivot floor, where the floor rests on a center pivot point.

The standard shuttle avoidance application supplied with the interface package (SOF-700RA-7) allows the user to define the number of trials to run, the stimuli (tone, light or both), the avoid interval, the escape interval, optional CS/UCS overlap, the option to punish ITI crossings and the maximum session duration. A row of data is created for each trial with the trial number, an avoid or escape tag with the corresponding latency, left and right chamber activity, crossings, and punished crossings. A summary file includes total values as well as the mean avoid and escape latency.

Please contact Sales if you have any questions on these packages or require assistance in designing a package to meet your specific research requirements.

Interface, computer and software are sold separately.

MED-APA-B1R
Basic Shuttle Avoidance Test Package for Rat

This basic package is designed primarily for active avoidance studies. A small hurdle can be used to separate the two sides of the chamber when the manual guillotine door is not installed. Also featured in this package is a MDF sound attenuating cubicle to enclose the chamber and prevent distractions during testing. Each chamber comes equipped with two stimulus lights and two sonalert tone generators. Each side of the chamber will have one light and one tone generator. The grid floor is equipped with a harness, which allows aversive stimulation to be delivered to either side of the chamber floor, at different times. This package also includes the aversive stimulation controllers. The interface and operating software are not included in this package. Order the MED-SYST-8 interface and software package to run up to eight chambers or the MED-SYST-16 to run up to sixteen test chambers.

MED-APA-D1R
Deluxe Shuttle Avoidance Test Package for Rat

This deluxe package contains a single station for active or passive avoidance, as well as many learned helplessness paradigms. By using four independent photo-beams on each of the chamber an excellent measurement of movement activity is obtained. This chamber is divided into two sections by a removable auto guillotine door. This package also includes a MDF sound attenuating cubicle to enclose the chamber and prevent distractions during testing. Each chamber comes equipped with two stimulus lights and two sonalert tone generators. Each side of the chamber will have one light and one tone generator. The grid floor is equipped with a harness, which allows aversive stimulation to be delivered to either side of the chamber floor, at different times. This package also includes the aversive stimulation controllers. The interface and operating software are not included in this package. Order the MED-SYST-8 interface and software package to run up to eight chambers or the MED-SYST-16 to run up to sixteen test chambers.

MED-APA-B1M
Basic Shuttle Avoidance Test Package for Mouse

The basic mouse package is identical to the basic rat package with the exception of the grid floor and grid floor harness, a separate component table is not shown. If desired, a set of rat floors and harnesses and mouse floors and harnesses can be ordered for the same test chamber. Changing these daily is not practical, but changing between studies is clearly an option. Order the MED-SYST-8 interface and software package to run up to eight test chambers and MED-SYST-16 to run up to sixteen test chambers.

MED-APA-D1M
Deluxe Shuttle Avoidance Test Package for Mouse

The deluxe mouse package is identical to the deluxe rat package with the exception of the grid floor and grid floor harness, therefore a separate component table is not shown. If desired, a set of rat floors and harnesses and mouse floors and harnesses can be ordered for the same test chamber. Changing these daily is not practical, but changing between studies is clearly an option. Order the MED-SYST-8 interface and software package to run up to eight test chambers and MED-SYST-16 to run up to sixteen test chambers.