High-throughput operant sensory discrimination apparatus and method
View Patent ↗Described herein are various apparatus and systems useful in sensory discrimination. Through the use of a multi-well sample plate, the high-throughput analysis apparatus and method allow for rapid sensory discrimination of a large number of samples.
1. An apparatus for use in animal sensory discrimination, comprising:
a support platform;
means for supporting a plurality of samples;
means for moving sample support means and support platform relative to each other;
means for signaling an animal to sample a sample of the plurality of samples; and
means for the animal to record a sensory response to the sampled sample, wherein said sensory response discriminates between at least two taste or olfactory stimuli; and wherein the sample support means comprises a sample plate; wherein the apparatus is programmed such that:
1. upon a signaling to the animal to sample, the animal is exposed to and may sample a sample of the plurality of samples and record a sensory response to the same;
2. upon recording a sensory response, the apparatus removes access to the sampled sample; and
3. upon a subsequent signaling to the animal to sample, the animal is exposed to and may sample a subsequent sample of the plurality of samples, and record a sensory response to the same;
wherein steps 1 through 3 take place within an order of a few minutes; and wherein steps 2 and 3are repeated until all of the samples of the plurality of samples are sampled and a sensory response recorded for each.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sample plate comprises 12, 24, 48, or 96 wells.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising means for moving the sample support means and the support platform relative to each other in at least two orthogonal directions.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the moving means comprises an x-y-z motion table.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the means for signaling an animal comprises one or more signal lights and/or one or more noise making devices.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the means for the animal to record a sensory response comprises one or more levers.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the means for the animal to record a sensory response comprises one or more nose-poke wells and/or one or more licking spouts.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising means for concealing the one or more samples.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said concealing means comprises one or more movable partitions.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising means for rewarding the animal.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the animal rewarding means comprises a food hopper.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the animal rewarding means comprises a water dispenser.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support platform comprises one or more apertures which allow access to the one or more samples.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the support platform further comprises one or more movable partitions concealing the apertures.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sample support means is oriented below the support platform.
16. An apparatus for use in animal sensory discrimination, comprising:
a support platform;
a sample plate having a plurality of sample wells formed therein;
means for signaling an animal to sample the contents of a selected one or more of the sample wells;
means for the animal to record a sensory response to the sampled contents;
means for moving the sample plate and the support platform relative to each other; and
means for concealing the contents; wherein said sensory response discriminates between at least two taste or olfactory stimuli; wherein the apparatus is programmed for use with an animal and a plurality of samples such that:
1. upon a signaling to the animal to sample, the animal is exposed to and may sample a sample of the plurality of samples and record a sensory response to the same;
2. upon recording a sensory response, the apparatus removes access to the sampled sample; and
3. upon a subsequent signaling to the animal to sample, the animal is exposed to and may sample a subsequent sample of the plurality of samples, and record a sensory response to the same;
wherein steps 1 through 3 take place within an order of a few minutes; and wherein steps 2 and 3are repeated until all of the samples of the plurality of samples are sampled and a sensory response recorded for each.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the sample plate comprises 12, 24, 48, or 96 wells.
18. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the moving means moves the sample plate and the support platform relative to each other in at least two orthogonal directions.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the moving means comprises an x-y˜z motion table.
20. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the means for signaling an animal comprises one or more signal lights and/or one or more noise making devices.
21. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the means for the animal to record a sensory response comprises one or more levers.
22. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the means for the animal to record a sensory response comprises one or more nose-poke wells and/or one or more licking spouts.
23. The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising means for rewarding the animal.
24. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the animal rewarding means comprises a food hopper.
25. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the animal rewarding means comprises a water dispenser.
26. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the concealing means comprises one or more movable partitions.
27. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the support platform comprises one or more apertures which allow access to the one or more sample wells.
28. The apparatus of claim 27 , further comprising means for concealing the one or more apertures.
29. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein the concealing means comprises one or more movable partitions concealing the apertures.
30. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the sample support means is oriented below the support platform.
31. An apparatus for use in animal sensory discrimination, comprising:
a support platform comprising one or more apertures;
a sample plate having at least 10 sample wells formed therein oriented below the support platform;
means for moving the sample plate and the support platform relative to each other;
means for signaling an animal to sample the contents of one or more of the sample wells; and
means for the animal to record a sensory response to the sampled contents, wherein said sensory response discriminates between at least two taste or olfactory stimuli; wherein the apparatus is programmed for use with the animal and a plurality of samples such that:
1. upon a signaling to the animal to sample, the animal is exposed to and may sample a sample of the plurality of samples and record a sensory response to the same; and
2. upon recording a sensory response, the apparatus removes access to the sampled sample; and
3. upon a subsequent signaling to the animal to sample, the animal is exposed to and may sample a subsequent sample of the plurality of samples, and record a sensory response to the same;
wherein steps 1 through 3 take place within an order of a few minutes; and wherein steps 2 and 3 are repeated until all of the samples of the plurality of samples are sampled and a sensory response recorded for each.
32. The apparatus of claim 31 , wherein the sample support plate comprises about 12 to about 100 sample wells.
33. The apparatus of claim 32 , wherein the sample plate comprises 12, 24, 48 or 96 wells.
34. The apparatus of claim 31 , wherein the moving means comprises an x-y-z motion table.
35. The apparatus of claim 31 , wherein the means for signaling an animal comprises one or more signal lights and/or one or more noise making devices.
36. The apparatus of claim 31 , wherein the means for the animal to record a sensory response comprises one or more levers.
37. The apparatus of claim 31 , wherein the means for the animal to record a sensory response comprises one or more nose-poke wells and/or one or more licking spouts.
38. The apparatus of claim 31 , further comprising means for rewarding the animal.
39. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein the animal rewarding means comprises a food hopper.
40. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein the animal rewarding means comprises a water dispenser.
41. The apparatus of claim 31 , further comprising means for concealing the one or more apertures.
42. The apparatus of claim 41 , wherein the concealing means comprises one or more movable partitions.
43. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the support platform comprises one aperture which allows access to one sample.
44. The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the support platform comprises one aperture which allows access to one sample.
45. The apparatus of claim 31 , wherein the support platform comprises one aperture which allows access to one sample.
46. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of samples comprise between 10 and 300 different samples.
47. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of samples comprise 96 different samples.