DBscorer: An Open-Source Software for Automated Accurate Analysis of Rodent Behavior in Forced Swim Test and Tail...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Behavioral Pharmacology
• Computational Biology

Background:

• Forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) are crucial for evaluating antidepressant efficacy and non-motor symptoms in neurological disorders.
• Manual analysis of FST and TST is labor-intensive and prone to observer variability.
• Existing automated solutions lack user-friendliness and open-source accessibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an accessible, open-source software tool for automated behavioral analysis in FST and TST.
• To provide accurate quantification of immobility and mobility states from video recordings.
• To offer a more nuanced understanding of behavioral despair through comprehensive data visualization.

Main Methods:

• Development of DBscorer, an open-source program with a graphical user interface (GUI) for Windows.
• Utilizes video analysis to quantify immobility in FST and TST.
• Incorporates customizable calibration options for experimental flexibility.

Main Results:

• DBscorer enables accurate and automated quantification of immobility behavior.
• The software provides detailed temporal data and graphical representations of immobility/mobility states.
• Offers analysis of additional behavioral parameters beyond simple immobility duration.

Conclusions:

• DBscorer offers an unbiased, automated, and rapid method for analyzing FST and TST data.
• The tool enhances the efficiency and reliability of behavioral despair assessments.
• Facilitates a deeper understanding of behavioral despair, benefiting the neuroscience community.