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Related Concept Videos

What is Behavior?00:54

What is Behavior?

Behaviors are actions that an organism engages in—they can be related to finding food, reproducing, defending against threats, and many other possible actions. Behaviors include activities related to the environment around the animal—such as migration—as well as social interactions within a species or population. Many behaviors involve motor output—that is, muscle movements—while others involve less visible actions, such as learning.
Behaviorism01:28

Behaviorism

The field of behaviorism was pioneered by figures such as Ivan Pavlov, John B. Watson, and B.F. Skinner fundamentally shifted the focus of psychology to the observable and controllable aspects of human and animal behavior. This shift marked a critical evolution in the discipline, emphasizing scientific rigor and experimental methodology.
The core premise of behaviorism is its focus on observable behavior rather than internal thoughts or feelings. This approach argues that true scientific...
Hierarchy of Motor Control01:18

Hierarchy of Motor Control

The hierarchy of motor control refers to the different levels of organization and processing involved in controlling movement in the body. These levels range from higher cortical areas involved in planning and decision-making to lower spinal cord reflexes that respond automatically to external stimuli.
Behavior Modification01:21

Behavior Modification

Behavioral approaches have often been criticized for ignoring mental processes and focusing solely on observable behavior. However, these approaches provide an optimistic perspective for individuals seeking to change their behaviors. Rather than concentrating on intrinsic personality traits, behavioral approaches suggest that even longstanding habits can be modified by changing the reward contingencies that maintain them.
A real-world application of operant conditioning principles is applied...
Direct Motor Pathways01:11

Direct Motor Pathways

The direct motor pathways, also known as the pyramidal tracts, are a group of neural pathways that originate in the brain and descend through the spinal cord. They control the voluntary movement of the body. There are two major direct motor pathways: the corticospinal and the corticobulbar tracts.
The corticospinal tract is responsible for the voluntary movement of the limbs and trunk. It originates in the cerebral cortex of the brain and descends through the cerebrum's internal capsule and the...
Behavior Therapy01:22

Behavior Therapy

Behavior therapy incorporates diverse techniques rooted in classical conditioning principles to address maladaptive behaviors and anxiety disorders. These methods aim to reduce avoidance behaviors, foster adaptive coping mechanisms, and alter associations between stimuli and responses, making them effective in a wide range of therapeutic contexts.
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Kinematics and Ground Reaction Force Determination: A Demonstration Quantifying Locomotor Abilities of Young Adult, Middle-aged, and Geriatric Rats
10:28

Kinematics and Ground Reaction Force Determination: A Demonstration Quantifying Locomotor Abilities of Young Adult, Middle-aged, and Geriatric Rats

Published on: February 22, 2011

Locomotor behavior.

R Christopher Pierce1, Peter W Kalivas

  • 1Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Current Protocols in Neuroscience
|April 23, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Locomotor activation in rodents is a key initial screen for drug efficacy. This study details methods for measuring rodent locomotion, including automated and observational techniques.

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Studying the Neural Basis of Adaptive Locomotor Behavior in Insects

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Kinematics and Ground Reaction Force Determination: A Demonstration Quantifying Locomotor Abilities of Young Adult, Middle-aged, and Geriatric Rats
10:28

Kinematics and Ground Reaction Force Determination: A Demonstration Quantifying Locomotor Abilities of Young Adult, Middle-aged, and Geriatric Rats

Published on: February 22, 2011

Asymmetric Walkway: A Novel Behavioral Assay for Studying Asymmetric Locomotion
08:19

Asymmetric Walkway: A Novel Behavioral Assay for Studying Asymmetric Locomotion

Published on: January 15, 2016

Studying the Neural Basis of Adaptive Locomotor Behavior in Insects
10:19

Studying the Neural Basis of Adaptive Locomotor Behavior in Insects

Published on: April 13, 2011

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology
  • Animal Behavior

Background:

  • Locomotor activation in rodents is a common preclinical model.
  • It requires minimal learning, making it suitable for initial drug screening.
  • This measure predicts therapeutic efficacy of drug classes in humans.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present protocols for measuring locomotor activity in rodents.
  • To detail automated and observational techniques for behavior monitoring.
  • To provide adaptable methods for rats, mice, and other rodents.

Main Methods:

  • Photocell-based automated monitoring systems.
  • Direct observation using interval and ordinal scales.
  • Discussion of supplementary methods like video systems and rotometers.

Main Results:

  • Detailed protocols for locomotor activity measurement are provided.
  • Methods are adaptable for different rodent species.
  • The study outlines reliable techniques for preclinical drug evaluation.

Conclusions:

  • Standardized protocols enhance the reliability of locomotor activity as a preclinical screen.
  • Accurate measurement of rodent locomotion is crucial for drug discovery.
  • The presented methods support the evaluation of pharmacological effects.