StereoScan
In behavior research area, many researchers want to study both the activity and life pattern of an animal at the same time. General speaking, activity can be best quantified through top view analysis (e.g., locomotion), while side view analysis provides much more detailed information on animal circadian rhythm (e.g., home cage behaviors like, eat, drink, sleep, walk, jump, rear up, hang up, groom, sniff, twitch, stretch, etc.). Acquiring measures of both activity and life pattern at same time (thus analyzing inter-relations between) has become more and more important in behavior research.
Product Description [PDF opens in new window]
StereoScan is a premiere behavior analysis system which aims at analyzing animal behavior thoroughly, reliably and efficiently. It integrates both top view and side view information, thus provides overall information including activities and life patterns.
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StereoScan observes single-animal behavior in a cage or an enclosure, from both top view and side view, and outputs detailed behavior sequence as well as specific events (such as eating, drinking, staying in specific zone, etc) as well as digital event inputs (e.g., TTL input changes by photo-beam, lever-pressing, etc.).
With StereoScan, one can finally obtain all the information one will ever need in a single system. For example, it will provide accurate distance traveled information and zones visited from the top view, while the side will provide behaviors such as rearing, eating, sleeping, grooming, etc. It provides truly the most comprehensive analysis possible.
System Requirements
- Windows-based PC (XP, 2000)
- Intel high-speed processor (Pentium 4 or better)
- Special videocard for real-time analysis
- Large HDD capacity for storage
- Good lighting conditions
- IR camera or red light for dark experiments
- Video-multiplexer for multi-camera feed
StereoScan system comprises two cameras focused on a single cage, one camera from the top and another from the side. The Top-view camera may be placed inside or outside the cage as long as a clean view of the bottom floor of the cage is visible. A custom designed arena with clear side walls is also an alternative option to the standard rodent cage. The side view camera is placed just like in HomeCageScan. Video from the two cameras are combined and synchronized for analysis.
StereoScan may be applied to any task that requires analysis from two views. Typically, a single view analysis (either Top-view alone or Side-view alone) will have to compromise on result quality by making certain approximations. For example, the TopScan cannot detect rearing accurately, while HomeCageScan cannot detect distance traveled and visits to different parts of the cage accurately. StereoScan allows no compromise on quality. Since TopScan has 4 components (LocoScan, ObjectScan, MazeScan, and WaterMazeScan), the user still as the option to choose which components to purchase. Purchase of all components is not necessary. Hence, StereoScan with just the LocoScan component or the entire TopScan may be purchased. We provide total flexibility to the user. The hallmark of StereoScan is simply the framework allowing both views to be integrated.
Flexible and powerful exporting tools are provided, which allows the user to get results in the format they want. Advanced features such as protocol control (starting/stopping of recording), batch mode, and result review are supported. Double-clicking each behavior record in the event record window or the behavior sequence window will playback the video segment corresponding to that occurrence, facilitating validation and detailed study. It also provides sophisticated and easy to use experimental data management system, and advanced feature-based group export function to allow export of multiple animals’ results into a comprehensive Excel file. Powerful visualization mode allows review of the analysis process, ability to load alternative parameter settings, and export of various statistical measures and graph data.
StereoScan can perform high-throughput analysis of 2 arenas per system.
Complete turnkey systems (including all necessary hardware and software) are available. Custom design of your environment to facilitate analysis, including lighting condition setup, IR/red light setup, cage enclosures, video integration, and video-feed to computer is also available.