Lickometer (Vogel Test) set-up for Drinking-Conflict experiments

Background

• In the Drinking-Conflict Vogel paradigm, a water-deprived animal is exposed to a lickometer, and licking events are coupled to electric shocks. The animal is in a motivationally conflicting situation; hence the licking behavior is affected by anxiety and anxiolytic drugs.
• The Drinking Conflict Vogel test usually consists of three phases:
  • Initial wait (triggered by the first licking event)
  • Shock phase (the sipper is electrified)
  • No-shock phase (no shock is associated to drinking)

Easy control, flexible

• Choice to use chambers as a general lickometer (without any administration of shocks) or drinking-conflict system (with shocks).
• Easy data collection. Number and timing of licking events is recorded and graphically displayed for each phase of the experiment.
• Easy system control. User-friendly software manages the experimental configuration for each cage, collects and saves the experimental data, and also provides a detailed report. Data can be saved as .csv (spreadsheet/Excel) file and .rpt file (a proprietary format which can be opened within the Lickometer software).
• Time or Number of Licks can be used to determine alternation between shock and no-shock phase, according to the user experimental paradigm.
• The duration of each phase is user-defined based either on time or on the animal behavior (i.e. the sipper is electrified after a defined number of licking events have occurred).
• One shocker is required per cage (two-pole sine-wave shocker with adjustable shock intensity)
• Up to 5 animal cages can be managed. Mouse or rat cages.