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Updated: Aug 7, 2026
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Automated, Quantitative Cognitive/Behavioral Screening of Mice: For Genetics, Pharmacology, Animal Cognition and Undergraduate Instruction
Published on: February 26, 2014
Standardizing tests of mouse behavior: reasons, recommendations, and reality
1Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, P-220 Biological Sciences Building, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9. wahlsten@ualberta.ca
Physiology & Behavior
|September 22, 2001
Summary
Standardizing mouse behavioral tests is crucial for reliable genetic research. Establishing standard strains, apparatus, and protocols will improve reproducibility across laboratories, benefiting behavioral and neural genetics.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral genetics
- Neuroscience research
Background:
- Increasing number of researchers entering mouse behavioral genetics.
- Variations in laboratory testing details and environments hinder replication of genetic experiments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To advocate for the standardization of widely used mouse behavioral tests.
- To identify behavioral tests with stable and sensitive results across different laboratory environments.
Main Methods:
- Selecting standard mouse strains, apparatus, and protocols for behavioral tests.
- Utilizing statistical methods for sample size determination to assess lab environment-genotype interactions.
- Leveraging new data-sharing resources for multi-site studies.
Main Results:
- Sufficient knowledge exists to select standard strains and test details.
- Equating laboratory environments is not feasible; focus should be on test stability and sensitivity.
- Standardization trials should incorporate informed sample size selection.
Conclusions:
- Standardizing mouse behavioral tests is a one-time effort that will benefit the field for years.
- Standardization will enhance the reliability and reproducibility of genetic research findings.
- Collaborative and comparative studies are facilitated by data-sharing resources.
