Shuttle Avoidance Test, also call Active Avoidance/Passive Avoidance Test, is common used in neuroscience to assess different forms of fear-based conditioned avoidance learning in rodents.
Active Avoidance Test (also called shuttle box test or automatic reflex conditioner), i.e. learning to predict the occurrence of an aversive event, based on the presentation of a specific stimulus, like sound, light and electricity.
Passive Avoidance Test requires performing a specific behavior in order to escape or avoid the aversive stimulus, represented by mild foot shock.
SANS Automated Shuttle Avoidance Box is a flexible system for active avoidance, passive avoidance and learned helplessness experiments. It comes with two independent chamber with grid floors that allow for flexible adverse stimuli. Automatic door is integrated in the chamber for auto opening and closing to reduce the influence of human interaction during the experiment.
A top-loading door allows easy access inside the box. The chamber contains a sound generator and a visual stimulus (light) that functions separately for each compartment. Software be used through PC connection.
Shuttle Avoidance Test
When an aversive stimulus is applied, the subject learns to avoid the aversive stimulus by moving to the other side of the two-compartment chamber after the presentation of the stimulus.
Passive avoidance Test
After the motivation or training, the subject is forced to move to the preferred side of the two-compartment chamber. Then it confined to the dark portion of the chamber, and experiences inescapable aversive stimulus.
Learned Helplessness Test
Learned helplessness is the behavior exhibited by a subject after enduring repeated aversive stimuli beyond their control. When a subject is place in an inescapable aversive stimulus environment (i.e. electric shock), it will develop a kind of despair behavior, which is manifested as no longer avoiding the stimulus and interfering with subsequent adaptive responses.
• Applicable for Rats and Mice, maximum 32 chambers.
• Conforms to GLP standard requirements, and provides 3Q certification service.
• Stimuli: Sound, Light, Shock Scheduled start: 0~23h.
Software
• Independent signal detection control in each box to precise detect the signal in the experiment.
• Independent software operated for separated channel.
• Shuttle, Passive Avoidance, Learning helplessness is integrated and applicable for the same shuttle chamber.
• Data can be exported to .csv format for further analysis.
Sound
• 2 Independent chambers, each with Range 100-40,000Hz; 1-95dB.
• Sound attenuating cubicle is optional, less than 40dB.
Light
• 2 Independent light controls.
• Range: 0-400LUX, resolution 1%.
• Visible and IR light dual bulb to detect the position.
Electricity Shock
• 0.1-4.0mA in 0.1mA steps AC Current. Alternating pulse current ensure fully shock.
• Removable Grid.
• 2 independent shock grid control ensure high reliability.
• Data can be exported to .csv/.doc format for further analysis.
Chamber operation
• Automatic door opening and closing to reduce the influence of human interaction during the experiment.
• Chamber opening and closing speed: 2-8cm/s.
• Closing distance: 1-10cm.
• Opening and closing noise: less than 65dB.
Our Shuttle Avoidance Test has been widely used in various global labs and help researchers achieve more success, covering wide range of studies including behavior genetics, psychopharmacology and behavioral toxicology, and drug screening.
