Validation of a new system for the automatic registration of behaviour in mice and rats.

A newly developed behaviour registration system, Laboratory Animal Behaviour Observation, Registration and Analysis System (LABORAS) for the automatic registration of different behavioural elements of mice and rats was validated. The LABORAS sensor platform records vibrations evoked by animal movements and the LABORAS software translates these into the corresponding behaviours. Data obtained by using LABORAS were compared with data from conventional observation methods (observations of videotapes by human observers). The results indicate that LABORAS is a reliable system for the automated registration of eating, drinking, grooming, climbing, resting and locomotion of mice during a prolonged period of time. In rats, grooming, locomotion and resting also met the pre-defined validation criteria. The system can reduce observation labour and time considerably.