Fear Conditioning System

Name: Fear Conditioning System
Brand: Ugo Basile
SKU: 46000

Product Code:46000

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)
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)

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

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
One USB cable connection	Seamless installation and connection to PC
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
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
Version for tethered animals	Compatible with optogenetics and electrophysiology
Multiple cage dimensions	Most suitable dimension for rats or mice

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 read the whitepaper Choosing a computer for ANY-maze which discusses various technical considerations that you may need to take into

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)
46001	1 animal system Fear-Conditioning Unit, including Isolation Cubicle 46000-596 (inside dimensions 39(d)x47(w)x49(h)cm), dual visible/I.R. light 46000-325, speaker 46000-165, controller on-board 46000-105, camera 47400-035, cables and power supply. System to be completed with video tracking software ANY-maze (full license or FC-version) and animal cage (Mouse XL, Mouse or Rat, see below)
46001-2	2 animal system Fear-Conditioning Unit, including 2 Isolation Cubicle 46000-596 (inside dimensions 39(d)x47(w)x49(h)cm), dual visible/I.R. light 46000-325, speaker 46000-165, controller on-board 46000-105, 2 cameras 47400-035, cables and power supply. System to be completed with video tracking software ANY-maze (full license or FC-version) and animal 2 cages (Mouse XL, Mouse or Rat, see below)
46001-4	4 animal system Fear-Conditioning Unit, including 4 Isolation Cubicle 46000-596 (inside dimensions 39(d)x47(w)x49(h)cm), dual visible/I.R. light 46000-325, speaker 46000-165, controller on-board 46000-105, 4 cameras 47400-035, cables and power supply. System to be completed with video tracking software ANY-maze (full license or FC-version) and animal 4 cages (Mouse XL, Mouse or Rat, see below)
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, internal dimensions 25.5 width x 25.5 depth x 36 height cm. including 3 floors (gray, white and black) and 3 contexts (grey, stripes and checkerboard)
46003-D03	Mouse Cage for Fear Conditioning, for thetered animal, with electrified grid floor, transparent walls, internal dimensions 17 width x 17 depth x 25 height cm. including 3 plastic floors (gray, white and black) and 3 contexts (grey, stripes and checkerboard)
46004-D03	Mouse Cage XL for Fear Conditioning, for thetered animal, with electrified grid floor, transparent walls, internal dimensions 25.5 width x 25.5 depth x 36 height cm. including 3 plastic floors (gray, white and black) and 3 contexts (grey, stripes and checkerboard)
46004-D01	Fear Conditioning Cage with frontal vertical door. Internal dimensions: 25.5(w)x26(d)x36(h) cm. Magnetic closure. Including 3 plastic floors (gray, white and black) and 3 contexts (grey, stripes and checkerboard.
46005	Fear Conditioning Cage for Observational Learning, Internal dimension 35(w)x17(d)25(h)cm; (17x17 cm for each cage)
Software (the system requires ANY-maze version 7 or higher):
60000-FC	ANY-maze software, FC-specific version (FEAR CONDITIONING TEST ONLY)
60000	ANY-maze software, full license (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)
46001-UBC12	UB-Care 12 Additional hardware warranty Fear Conditioning 1 animal system
46001-2-UBC12	UB-Care 12 Additional hardware warranty Fear Conditioning 2 animal system
46001-4-UBC12	UB-Care 12 Additional hardware warranty Fear Conditioning 4 animal system
46001-UBC24	UB-Care 24 Additional hardware warranty Fear Conditioning 1 animal system
46001-2-UBC24	UB-Care 24 Additional hardware warranty Fear Conditioning 2 animal system
46001-4-UBC24	UB-Care 24 Additional hardware warranty Fear Conditioning 4 animal system
Included Components:
46000-105	Controller on-board
46000-165	Speaker
46000-325	Dual (visible/I.R.) Light
46000-596	Sound Attenuating Cubicle (48.5(w)x38.5(d)x48.5(h)cm)
47400-035	USB Camera

Main References +-

M. Jiang, S. Vanan, H. Tu, W. Zhang, Z. Zhang, S. Chia, S. E. Jang, X. Zeng, W. Yu, J. Xu , K. Guo, L. Zeng, 2020, "Amyloid precursor protein intracellular domain-dependent regulation of FOXO3a inhibits adult hippocampal neurogenesis", Neurobiology of Aging

C.L., Bender, A. Otamendi, G.D. Calfa, V.A. Molina, 2018, "Prior Stress Promotes The Generalization Of Contextual Fear Memories: Involvement Of The Gabaergic Signaling Within The Basolateral Amygdala Complex", Progress in Neuro Psychopharmacolocy and Biological Psychiatry

S. R. Blume, M. Freedberg, J. E. Vantrease,R. Chan, M. Padival, M. J. Record, M. R. DeJoseph, J. H. Urban, J. A. Rosenkranz, 2017, "Sex-And Estrus-Dependent Differences In Rat Basolateral Amygdala", The Journal of Neuroscience

M. Verma, J.S. Schneider, 2017, "Strain Specific Effects of Low Level Lead Exposure on Associative Learning and Memory in Rats", NeuroToxicology

P.L. Roubertoux, N. Baril, P. Cau, C. Scajola, A. Ghata, C. Bartoli, P. Bourgeois, J. di Christofaro, S. Tordjman, M. Carlier, 2017, "Differential Brain, Cognitive and Motor Profiles Associated with Partial Trisomy. Modeling Down Syndrome in Mice", Behaviour Genetics

A. Sirri, V. Bianchi, M. Pelizzola, M. Mayhaus, P. Ricciardi-Castagnoli, D. Toniolo, P D'Adamo, 2010, "Temporal gene expression profile of the hippocampus following trace fear conditioning", Brain Research

Resources & Downloads +-

Instruction Manual Camera Instruction Manual Leaflet