Experimental animal behavioral research methods and apparatuses

Abstract

A method of determining a cognitive state of an experimental animal in a cage is provided. The cage includes one or more walls that enclose a living space for containing the experimental animal, and a heating structure. The method includes installing a card with at least a first type of sequestered olfactory compound, directing the heating structure to selectively heat the card to release the first type of sequestered first type of olfactory compound to subject the experimental animal to a novel olfactory experience, creating a first assessment of a behavior of the laboratory animal, subjecting the experimental animal to experimental procedures and/or waiting a selected amount of time, directing the heating structure to selectively heat the card to release more of the first type of sequestered olfactory compound, creating a second assessment of a behavior of the experimental animal, and evaluating the first and second assessments to determine the cognitive state of the experimental animal.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.