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A Touchscreen Device for Behavioral Testing in Pigs.

Will Ao¹, Megan Grace¹, Candace L Floyd²

¹Injury and Recovery Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Ohio State University, 460 W 12th Ave, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.

|October 27, 2022

Summary

Researchers developed an automated touchscreen system for pig behavioral testing, enabling efficient study of neurological conditions. This low-cost, adaptable device allows for complex cognitive tasks, enhancing pigs as research models.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Animal Behavior
Biomedical Research

Background:

Pigs are increasingly utilized as research models for neurological disorders like Alzheimer's disease and Huntington's disease.
Current behavioral testing methods for pigs are often labor-intensive, require large equipment, and lack automation, hindering functional research.
There is a need for accessible, automated tools to facilitate detailed behavioral assessments in porcine models.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop and validate a cost-effective, automated touchscreen system for behavioral testing in pigs.
To assess the adaptability of the system for various pig sizes and its utility in complex cognitive tasks.
To enhance the use of pigs in research by providing a more efficient and versatile behavioral assessment tool.

Main Methods:

Keywords:

Alzheimer’s disease behavior brain injury cognition operant transgenic

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A rack-mounted touchscreen and an automated pellet dispenser were integrated into an enclosed testing setup.
Custom Python programs were developed for behavioral shaping and task execution on a microcomputer.
The system was tested for durability with large pigs and adjustability for minipigs, and used in delay discounting and color discrimination tasks.

Main Results:

Pigs demonstrated rapid learning and engagement with the touchscreen interface.
The automated system successfully facilitated training and execution of complex behavioral tasks, including delay discounting and color discrimination.
The device proved durable for repeated testing with large pigs and adjustable for minipigs, indicating broad applicability.

Conclusions:

The developed touchscreen system offers a low-cost, adaptable, and automated solution for pig behavioral research.
This technology can significantly improve the efficiency and scope of studies investigating neurological conditions, pharmacology, and sensory functions in porcine models.
Further development of discipline-specific tasks will maximize the potential of this system for diverse research applications.