Image analysis of small animal feeding behavior: an update.
Recently we published a design for an automated feeding behavior system (Rowley, Stitt, & Hanson, 2003). One disadvantage of this system is that it relied on expensive, custom hardware. Here we present a modified version that replaces the custom hardware with a simple, commercially available webcam and modified the MATLAB analysis software as well. The new system is much less expensive and easier to implement, while still providing for bias-free collection of consumption data in a feeding behavior trial.
Rowley
Marc
M
Department of Biology, Berea College, Berea, Kentucky 40404, USA. marc_rowley@berea.edu
Hanson
Frank
F
D000818:Animals; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005509:Food Dispensers, Automatic; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D012984:Software