RU2506650C2 - Apparatus for causing conditioned reflex reaction in south american cockroaches blaberus giganteus - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to experimental physiology and is intended for studying different forms of behaviour and processes of causing conditioned reflex reaction in insects - South American giant cockroaches Blaberus giganteus. A box with a transparent cover is filled with a polymer mass with the possibility of forming a source environment of the required shape and complexity for placing cockroaches and a controlled robot for causing avoidance reaction in the cockroaches. The source environment is configured to form areas not accessible by the robot and safe for the cockroaches. A video camera is placed on top of the box to record the experiment and subsequently analyse the experiment using a computer.

EFFECT: enabling simulation of a source environment of the required shape and complexity for placing insects and recording the avoidance reaction of the insects in a safe area.

5 dwg

Description

The invention relates to experimental physiology and is intended to study the behavior and processes of generating conditioned reflex reactions in insects - the South American giant cockroaches Blaberus giganteus.

A device is known, developed by Blanchard and Blanchard (1969), designed to generate conditioned reflexes that mimics a meeting with a predator. The object of testing are laboratory rats. The design includes a device for supplying electric shock, triggered by contact with the animal. The rat moves freely along a circular path, trying to avoid contact with the device moving towards it - an electric "porcupine". Using this device, it is possible to study the development of an active avoidance reaction in rats [1].

The disadvantages of this device are:

1) the stereotype of the studied conditioned reflex reaction;

2) the static nature of the instrumental environment;

3) using only electric current as an aversive stimulus;

4) the monosyllabic movement of a device imitating a predator;

5) the inability of the experimenter to arbitrarily change the trajectory of the electric "porcupine" in relation to the test object;

6) the lack of the possibility of restructuring the architecture of the instrumental environment.

The technical result is the ability to simulate the instrumental environment of the necessary shape and complexity for placing the insect and recording the reaction of its active avoidance in a safe zone.

The specified technical result is achieved by the fact that the device for generating conditioned reflexes in South American cockroaches BLABERUS GIGANTEUS includes a box with a transparent lid filled with a polymer mass with the possibility of forming an instrumental medium of the necessary shape and complexity for placing cockroaches in it and a controlled robot for generating an avoidance reaction in cockroaches while the instrumental environment is configured to form zones inaccessible to the robot and safe for the cockroach, and above the box of mouth A video camera was installed to record an experiment and then analyze it using a computer.

The proposed device (Fig. 1) includes a box 1 filled with a polymer mass 2. From the bottom, a box 3 of electrically conductive material is attached to the box. The box is closed by a transparent lid 4. The camcorder 5 is mounted above the box with the video function in the dark without lighting. Polymer mass 2, having the ability, on the one hand, to change shape as a result of the experimenter's influence, and on the other hand, to maintain the adopted shape for a long time, allows creating instrumental environments of any complexity (Fig. 2) and purpose (Fig. 3).

The device operates as follows.

In the initial state (Fig. 1), the entire box 1 is filled with a polymer mass 2. The experimenter, using improvised means, forms in the mass a labyrinth or tool environment of the required shape and complexity (Fig. 2). The insect 6 and the radio-controlled robot 7 imitating a predator are placed in the device (Fig. 4). The box closes with a transparent lid and the camcorder turns on. The experiment has begun. To level out the effect of stereotypic behavior of the test object, at the end of the experiment, the start zones, passages and maze arms formed by the experimenter are filled with a polymer mass (Fig. 5). The device is restored to its original state and is ready for a new experiment (Fig. 1).

Example 1

A maze is formed. The cockroach Blaberus giganteus is placed in the starting area. A radio-controlled robot is placed in one of the arms. Box 1 is closed by a transparent lid 4, through which a cockroach behavior is recorded. The experimenter, controlling the robot, produces an active avoidance reaction in the insect. Then, analyzing the obtained video recording on a computer, one can judge by the length of the cockroach tracks the rate of development of the conditioned reflex reaction. In addition, the experimenter is able to form the instrumental environment in such a way that the robot cannot get into certain arms or compartments of the labyrinth (for example, the dimensions of the robot do not allow penetration into the device’s area, freely accessible by the size of the cockroach). In this case, it is advisable to time the cockroach to produce a stable active avoidance reaction in the safe zone of the device.

Literature

Buresh Y., Bureshova O., Houston D.P. Methods and basic experiments to study the brain and behavior. M .: Higher school. 1991. P.205.

Claims (1)

A device for generating conditioned reflex reactions in South American cockroaches BLABERUS GIGANTEUS, including a box with a transparent lid filled with a polymer mass with the possibility of forming an instrumental environment, the necessary shape and complexity for placing cockroaches and a controlled robot in it to generate an avoidance reaction in cockroaches, while the instrumental environment is made with the possibility of forming zones inaccessible to the robot and safe for the cockroach, and a video camera is installed above the box for recording the experiment and leduyuschego analyze it with the aid of a computer.

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