Upcoming Products

Note: All pictures are subject to change as the designs are finalized.

Forced Swim Test Video Tracking System
MED-VFS-RS (Rat)
MED-VFS-MS (Mouse)

Announcing the impending release of Med Associates' Video-Tracking Forced Swim Test!
The Forced Swim Test is a standard means of testing the pharmacological effects of antidepressants in mice and rats. Dose-dependent effects on immobility are evident using the Forced Swim Test, and the Med Associates' video tracking software provides researchers with a reliable method of behavioral quantification.

System Highlights
The MED-VFS package includes everything needed to conduct this behavioral assay in rodent species. The primary dependent variable is the amount of time spent immobile during the experimental session. The software also provides an index of average motion, and data are printed to the computer screen in real time. Video is recorded directly on to the hard drive of a PC computer, and can be analyzed using a variety a frame-capture rates.

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Radial Arm Maze Video Tracking System
MED-VRM-RS (Rat)
MED-VRM-MS (Mouse)

Track movement within a Radial-Arm Maze using Med Associates' video-tracking software. The basic MED-VRM package features eight runway arms joined by a hub. The MED-VRM packages do not come equipped with automated doors or pellet feeders, and are therefore lower-cost alternatives to the Deluxe Radial Arm Maze Test Packages (MED-RAM-1R and MED-RAM-1M).

System Highlights
The video-tracking software for the MED-VRM package calculates seven different dependent variables

Runway Entrances occur when the subject moves into the arms of the maze.
The total amount of time the subject spends in each runway and the hub is tallied.
The number of times the subject has traveled the entire length of the runway is tabulated as an
"end count."
When an "end count" is registered on a previously unvisited runway arm, the program records a
"correct" runway selection. If all eight arms are being used for the experiment, then there can
be no more than eight correct responses.
When the subject travels the length of a previously visited runway, an "error" is recorded.
The elapsed time to total maze completion is recorded, and this is the time from the beginning
of the exploration period to the point in time when the subject has visited all of the runways.
Total average velocity (distance traveled/time) is also recorded.

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Site Updated: July 1, 2008