title: Grooming analysis algorithm: use in the relationship between sleep deprivation and anxiety-like behavior.
abstract: Increased anxiety is a classic effect of sleep deprivation. However, results regarding sleep deprivation-induced anxiety-like behavior are contradictory in rodent models. The grooming analysis algorithm is a method developed to examine anxiety-like behavior and stress in rodents, based on grooming characteristics and microstructure. This study evaluated the applicability of the grooming analysis algorithm to distinguish sleep-deprived and control rats in comparison to traditional grooming analysis. Forty-six animals were distributed into three groups: control (n=22), paradoxical sleep-deprived (96 h, n=10) and total sleep deprived (6 h, n=14). Immediately after the sleep deprivation protocol, grooming was evaluated using both the grooming analysis algorithm and traditional measures (grooming latency, frequency and duration). Results showed that both paradoxical sleep-deprived and total sleep-deprived groups displayed grooming in a fragmented framework when compared to control animals. Variables from the grooming analysis algorithm were successful in distinguishing sleep-deprived and normal sleep animals regarding anxiety-like behavior. The grooming analysis algorithm and traditional measures were strongly correlated. In conclusion, the grooming analysis algorithm is a reliable method to assess the relationship between anxiety-like behavior and sleep deprivation.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Psicobiologia - Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gabriel N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Pires
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tufik
authors.forename: Monica L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Andersen
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006120:Grooming / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*