title: Design and construction of a two-temperature preference behavioral assay for undergraduate neuroscience laboratories.
abstract: Behavioral assays in the undergraduate neuroscience laboratory are useful for illustrating a variety of physiological concepts. An example is homeostatic temperature regulation (thermoregulation). Many model organisms, from flies to mice, regulate internal temperatures in part by moving to suitable climates (thermotaxis). A particularly reliable method of quantifying temperature-dependent thermotactic behaviors is the two-temperature preference behavioral assay. In this preparation, an organism is free to move between two temperature-controlled surfaces, thus revealing its preferred thermal environment. Here we present the design and construction of a two-temperature preference assay chamber. The device uses Peltier-based thermoelectric modules (TECs) for heating and cooling, and is capable of precision control of temperatures from -5ºC to 60ºC. Our approach can be easily adapted for use in a variety of physiological and behavioral assays that require precise temperature control over a wide range of temperatures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, The College of Idaho, Caldwell, ID 83605;
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.forename: David D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: McKemy
keywords: behavior; cooling; heating; peltier; physiology; temperature control; thermal preference; thermoelectric; thermoregulation; thermotaxis