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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 23, 2026

Novel Object Exploration as a Potential Assay for Higher Order Repetitive Behaviors in Mice

Novel Object Exploration as a Potential Assay for Higher Order Repetitive Behaviors in Mice

Published on: August 20, 2016

Emergent exploration via novelty management.

Goren Gordon¹, Ehud Fonio², Ehud Ahissar³

¹Departments of Neurobiology and.

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience

|September 19, 2014

Summary

Rodents explore new environments by maximizing novelty, using a structured approach to manage information gain. This novelty management framework guides their exploration across different senses and development.

Keywords:

active sensing hierarchical model intrinsic motivation reinforcement learning whisker system

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Last Updated: Apr 23, 2026

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Operant Sensation Seeking in the Mouse

Operant Sensation Seeking in the Mouse

Published on: November 10, 2010

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Animal Behavior
Computational Biology

Background:

Animal exploration of novel environments is complex and structured, but underlying principles remain unclear.
Understanding exploratory patterns is crucial for deciphering learning and adaptation mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the principles governing exploratory behaviors in rodents.
To develop and validate a computational model for novelty-driven exploration.

Main Methods:

Analysis of whisking and locomotion data in rats and mice.
Application of a hierarchical curiosity model to behavioral data.
Experimental validation of model predictions using novel object encounters in mice.

Main Results:

Rodents maximize novelty signal-to-noise ratio during exploration.
Exploration follows a novelty-descending sequence with novelty-triggered withdrawal.
A hierarchical curiosity model accurately captures exploratory behavior across timescales.
Novelty management is integrated across different sensory modalities.

Conclusions:

Rodents employ a novelty management framework to guide exploratory actions.
This framework provides a plausible mechanism for learning and integrating exploration primitives.
The findings offer insights into the developmental and neural basis of mammalian exploration.