TY - JOUR TI - A virtual burrow assay for head–fixed mice measures habituation, discrimination, exploration and avoidance without training AU - Fink, Andrew JP AU - Axel, Richard AU - Schoonover, Carl E A2 - Mason, Peggy A2 - Dulac, Catherine A2 - Murthy, Venkatesh N A2 - Brecht, Michael VL - 8 PY - 2019 DA - 2019/04/17 SP - e45658 C1 - eLife 2019;8:e45658 DO - 10.7554/eLife.45658 UR - https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.45658 AB - We have designed an assay that measures approach and avoidance behaviors in head-fixed mice at millisecond timescale, is compatible with standard electrophysiological and optical methods for measuring neuronal activity, and requires no training. The Virtual Burrow Assay simulates a scenario in which a mouse, poised at the threshold of its burrow, evaluates whether to exit the enclosure or to retreat inside. The assay provides a sensitive readout of habituation, discrimination and exploration, as well as avoidance of both conditioned and innately aversive cues. KW - virtual burrow assay KW - habituation KW - fear conditioning KW - sensory discrimination KW - exploration KW - head-fixed behavior JF - eLife SN - 2050-084X PB - eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd ER -