Fear Conditioning System

Name: Fear Conditioning System
Brand: Ugo Basile
SKU: 46101/46101-2/46101-3/46101-4

Product Code:46101/46101-2/46101-3/46101-4

Category: Behaviour, Conditioning, Reward

The Ugo Basile Fear Conditioning system is composed of:

Isolation cubicle, including all electronics, fan, IR/VIS lights, camera (up to 16 cubicles can be connected to 1 PC)
The animal cage is available in different dimensions for rats and mice, plus the observational learning version to allow two animals to see each other. The standard cage has a circular opening, but also a vertical door is available
Video-tracking system is required in only 1 license, no matter how many cages you have
Electronic shock meter is an optional to measure the current on the grid floor
Extended warranty is an additional option

Please see the Ordering information below to choose the components that fits your experiment

Fear conditioning is one of the most common methods to measure memory in rodents. It exploits the Pavlovian association between an unpleasant unconditioned stimulus (shock) to a conditioned neutral stimulus (sound cue). The reaction of rodents, as predated animals, is to freeze (stay immobile) when exposed to fearful situations, such as a shock.

Once the association has happened and the animal has memorized it, freezing will happen also when the sound is presented without shock. This is the principle of Fear Conditioning, which is also coupled to the change of the visual/tactile context (appearance) to ensure that the animal is reacting to the association to the sound and not to the environment (cued and contextual fear conditioning)

New Illuminator for Better Lighting and Ease of Use. Enhance your behavioral studies with our innovative, all-in-one lighting solution.

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An extended warranty can be added for most Ugo Basile products. You can find this information in the ordering information section of each product.
To learn more about the extended warranty, CLICK HERE

Detailed description +-

Background

Fear conditioning is one of the most common methods to measure memory in rodents
It exploits the Pavlovian association between an unpleasant unconditioned stimulus (shock) to a conditioned neutral stimulus (sound cue or context)
The reaction of rodents, as predated animals, is to freeze (stay immobile) when exposed to fearful situations, such as a shock
The ratio between the freezing with and without shock gives a measure of the memorization of the event and hence allows for a fast memory screening

New Illuminator for Better Lighting and Ease of Use

Enhance your behavioral studies with our innovative, all-in-one lighting solution. The new illuminator offers:

Superior light homogeneity, both IR and visible.
Auto-centering made easy with Mouse XL and Rat Cage: the new illuminator simplifies cage centering under the camera, speeding up experiment setup activities and video tracking software configuration, as well as repositioning after replacing the animal for a new experiment.
No tools needed to adjust camera focus: the lenses are held in place by a special technique that makes screwing a little harder, maintaining the focus position without the need to fix it. Lens changes are still possible.
New guiding system for tethered animals: the cable is now guided by a transparent tube, to simplify the cable insertion. A black cap is provided when the system is used to test non-tethered animals.
Optional swivel holder available: we customize the holder according to the design of your swivel.
All-in-one assembly for better service and easy replacement during maintenance activities.

Easy control, easy set up, easy expansion

The Ugo Basile system comes complete with:

Visible and IR lights
Ventilated isolation cubicle
Shocker and electrified cage
High intensity speaker for frequency and white noise sounds
IR camera, cables and lenses
Color-coded easy connections with the onboard electronics
Seamless to be expanded from 1 to 4 or more units for high throughput
Detection of the Freezing is automated through Any-maze or any other software, as well as the control of lights, sounds, shocker, etc.

Features & Benefits +-

Features	Benefits
NEW Illuminator	Improved light homogeneity, auto-centering, lens focus with no tool needed, easier pass-through for cabled animals, swivel holder (based on your specific swivel) and all in 1 assembly for easy replacement or service
One USB cable connection	Seamless installation and connection to PC
High throughput	Expandable from 1 to 16 units for high throughput
Miniaturized USB-IR camera with 2 lenses (normal and fish-eye)	Camera mounted on the ceiling and working in any light conditioning and with any cage dimension
Control via ANY-maze or any other software	Super easy to control and fully automated via to perform effortless experiments. Automated Freezing detection and controls for the most accurate results
Interchangeable contexts	Easy to mount on the walls with different patterns
IR and visible illumination	Experiments can be run in light or darkness, also as a tool to alter the context
Same software controls devices and analyses freezing	Fast learning curve in building protocols and automatic detection of freezing
Cages compatible with tethered animals	Ready for optogenetics, electrophysiology, microscopy
Multiple cage dimensions	Most suitable dimensions for rats or mice, observational cage for Social Fear Conditioning and Operant Fear Conditioning for conflict-based and operant tasks in Fear Conditioning
All electronics in the cubicle	Simple and cheap upgrade to STARTLE /PPI

Specifications +-

Operation
Camera	IR sensible (lens 2.1mm and 4mm), visible light filtered
Active Silent Ventilation	Yes
Read-Out	USB to PC through AnyMaze, TTL I/O
General
Shock	Constant current
Shock Intensity	from 0.1 to 3mA, in 0.1mA steps
Shock Duration	Duration: from 0.5 to 60 seconds
Illumination	Dimmable visible 6500K and IR 850nm
Sound	500Hz-18KHz, adjustable volume, max 100dB ± 3dB
White Noise	Adjustable volume, max 77dB ± 3dB
Power	100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 60W max
Operating Temperature	10°C to 40°C; 5% to 95% RH (non-condensing)
Sound Level	Negligible (sound cue excluded)
Physical
Dimension	Outer Size	Internal Size
Cubicle	52(d)x62(w)x58(h)cm	39(d)x47(w)x49(h)cm
Mouse Cage	20(w)x24(d)x30(h)cm	17x17x25(h)cm
Rat Cage	27(w)x32(d)x41(h)cm	25.5x25.5x36(h)cm
Mouse Cage XL	27(w)x32(d)x41(h)cm	25.5x25.5x36(h)cm
Observational Mouse	37(w)x24(d)x30(h)cm	35(w)x17(d)x25(h)cm
Front Vertical Door	29(w)x32.5(d)x41(h)cm	25.5(w)x26(d)x36(h)cm
Weight	20Kg
Shipping Weight	43Kg
Warranty
Warranty	Fear Conditioning is covered by a 12-month warranty + 12 after product registration
UB-Care	Additional UB-Care can be added for other 12 or 24 months

PC Requirements
PC Requirements	Minimum specification	Recommended specification	Best system
Windows version	XP service pack 3	Windows 10	Windows 11
Processor	Pentium Dual-core	Core i3	Core i7
RAM	1GB	4GB	8GB
Hard drive	1GB available	500GB	1TB
Display	1366 x 768px	1600 x 900px	1920 x 1080px
Expansion	Not applicable	Not applicable	PCi express ports

If you're planning to track in multiple apparatus, or track for long periods (> 12 hours), or include large numbers (> 500) of animals in experiments then we recommend you use the highest requirements.

Application +-

Fear conditioning is one of the most common methods to measure memory in rodents. It exploits the Pavlovian association between an unpleasant unconditioned stimulus (shock) to a conditioned neutral stimulus (sound cue or context). The reaction of rodents, as predated animals, is to freeze (stay immobile) when exposed to fearful situations, such as a shock, or to a neutral stimulus they have associated (i.e. they remember) to it.

Once the association has happened and the animal has memorized it, freezing will happen also when the sound is presented without shock or when the animal experiences the context where the shock was delivered.

This is the basic principle of Fear Conditioned, which is normally referred to as Cued and Contextual to describe change in the cage interior (context, or appearance). This step of the experiment ensures that the detected freezing is actually the reaction to the sound and not to the memory of the environment. In the same way, the memorization of the context as the unconditioned stimulus (with no sound used), can be measured by comparing the freezing with shock (training), or in the same context without shock.

One of the reasons of the success of Fear Conditioning in memory studies is indeed its simplicity and the fact that it can be frequently used as a single trial, fast and high-throughput experiment.

Ordering informations +-

The Ugo Basile Fear Conditioning system is composed of:

Isolation cubicle (up to 16 set-up)
Animal cage (one for every cubicle)
Video Tracking software (one for every system, eg. if you choose a 4 cubicle/animal set-up you need just one software license)
Optional Electric Shock Meter
Optional UB-Care warranty extension

Plese see the table below to choose the components that fits your experiment

Fear Conditioning System (up to 16 animal)
46101	1 animal system One animal Fear-Conditioning system (cubicle, IR/visible light, sound and Video camera), to be completed with SW ANY-maze and Mouse or Rat FC cage. Not compatible with previous system
46101-2	2 animal system Two animal Fear-Conditioning system (cubicle, IR/visible light, sound and Video camera), to be completed with SW ANY-maze and Mouse or Rat FC cage. Not compatible with previous system
46101-3	3 animal system Three animal Fear-Conditioning system (cubicle, IR/visible light, sound and Video camera), to be completed with SW ANY-maze and Mouse or Rat FC cage. Not compatible with previous system
46101-4	4 animal system Four animal Fear-Conditioning system (cubicle, IR/visible light, sound and Video camera), to be completed with SW ANY-maze and Mouse or Rat FC cage. Not compatible with previous system
STANDARD Cages for Fear Conditioning (custom cage scapes and color available on request)
46002-D03	Rat Cage for Fear Conditioning, for thetered animal, with electrified grid floor, transparent walls, including 3 floors (gray, white and black) and 3 contexts (grey, stripes and checkerboard)
46004-D03	Mouse Cage for Fear Conditioning, for thetered animal, with electrified grid floor, transparent walls, including 3 plastic floors (gray, white and black) and 3 contexts (grey, stripes and checkerboard)
46004-D01	Mouse Cage XL for Fear Conditioning, with electrified grid floor, dimensions 25x25x35(h) cm, without window, cage opening with 90° opening door, external hinges, closure with 2 magnets with contexts
46005	Mouse Cage for Fear Conditioning, with electrified grid floor, dimensions 17x17x25(h) cm. With transparent walls and opening on the front wall, for tethered animals, complete with additional cage for observational learning
49603	Operant Cage & Fear Conditioning cage with 2 nose pokes, minimum 2x2 coloured lights, white light (to be used as conditioning cue or omission cue), pellet dispenser with measuring feeder and electrified grid. Context and floor included
Software (the system requires ANY-maze version 7 or higher):
60000-FC	Software AnyMaze for Fear Conditioning (freezing detection) (FEAR CONDITIONING TEST ONLY)
60000	ANY-maze, flexible video tracking system designed to automate testing in behavioural experiments. Full License, including lifelong support and updates (use for Fear Conditioning and all the other inplemented test)
Optional items:
46000-101	Electric shock meter for Fear Conditioning system (essential instrument to mesure current between cages)
46000-D01	Upgrade of Isolation Cubicle, consisting in special lead-sheet lining, to cut electromagnetic interference

UB Care Additional Warranty Extension
46101-UBC12	UB Care 12 Additional hardware warranty extension 12 months for Fear Conditioning Unit (Valid for SKU 46101)
46101-UBC24	UB Care 24 Additional hardware warranty extension 24 months for Fear Conditioning Unit (Valid for SKU 46101)
46101-2-UBC12	UB Care 12 Additional hardware warranty extension 12 months for Fear Conditioning Unit (Valid for SKU 46101-2)
46101-2-UBC24	UB Care 24 Additional hardware warranty extension 24 months for Fear Conditioning Unit (Valid for SKU 46101-2)
46101-3-UBC12	UB Care 12 Additional hardware warranty extension 12 months for Fear Conditioning Unit (Valid for SKU 46101-3)
46101-3-UBC24	UB Care 24 Additional hardware warranty extension 24 months for Fear Conditioning Unit (Valid for SKU 46101-3)
46101-4-UBC12	UB Care 12 Additional hardware warranty extension 12 months for Fear Conditioning Unit (Valid for SKU 46101-4)
46101-4-UBC24	UB Care 24 Additional hardware warranty extension 24 months for Fear Conditioning Unit (Valid for SKU 46101-4)
Included Components:
46101-105	Controller on-board
46101-165	Speaker
46101-326	Dual (visible/I.R.) Light
46101-596	Sound Attenuating Cubicle (48.5(w)x38.5(d)x48.5(h)cm)
47400-050	USB Camera