Development of the open field behavior in the precocial spiny mouse

One prospective animal model in regenerative and developmental neuroscience is a precocial spiny mouse. However, the pattern of its central nervous system development remains unexplored. To identify critical periods in the postnatal formation of general and exploration‑related behavior in spiny mice, open field behavior was assessed across the first three postnatal months. Locomotor activity, thigmotaxis, vertical activity, and grooming were analyzed. Based on these findings, two key time points in the spiny mouse postnatal ontogeny were identified: (1) between 1st and 2nd days (transition from minimal movement to active walking, with jumping and unsupported rearing behavior first appearing with sharp increase in all exploratory behaviors with peripheral preference), and (2) between 5th and 10th days (transition to mature complex exploratory patterns characterized by more diverse and frequent behavioral repertoire and broader area coverage). The first stage may correspond to a marker improvement in locomotor abilities, while the second and third stages are associated with a sharp increase in exploratory behavior.