title: A microcomputer-based system for real-time analysis of animal movement.
abstract: A microcomputer-based video system for tracking, recording, and analyzing the movement of animals in two dimensions on variegated background in real-time has been developed and validated, both mechanically and with moving animals. Hardware and software (donationware) costs are low. Specimens visualized as small as 3 pixels long may be tracked in an arena that is 240 x 320 pixels in size. The results of tracking a mechanical moving spot are compared with a theoretical circular path. Comparisons between frame-by-frame human observation and computer generated X-Y coordinates are also presented. Applications of the tracking system include insect toxicology and pheromone bioassay, vertebrate locomotion studies, and basic research on taxes and kineses.
authors.affiliation: USDA-ARS, Medical and Veterinary Entomology Research Laboratory, Gainesville, FL 32604, USA.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Hoy
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Koehler
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Patterson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003058:Cockroaches; D003199:Computer Systems; D008297:Male; D008838:Microcomputers; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012399:Rotation; D014741:Video Recording