Quantification of stretch-attend posture based on morphometric and kinematic analysis of behavioral syllables in mice

초록

In certain behavioral tests, deciphering fear responses in mice is a complex challenge that requires precision and objectivity. When a rodent detects a potential threat, it shows a stretch- attend posture (SAP) characterized by a distinct stretching movement followed by an attentive pause. Traditional SAP measurement methods rely on subjective observer judgment, leading to inconsistencies and potential observer-expectancy bias, thus compromising the reliability of research findings. Additionally, the transient nature of behavioral changes challenges the accuracy of direct observation. To overcome these limitations, we developed an program called SAP-Detector to measure SAP objectively and accurately in mice based on measurement and segmentation of distance ratio. By employing this SAP-Detector, we propose a more precise analysis of behavioral responses, which can reveal differences in interaction time with targets that may not be apparent through traditional metrics alone