title: Reproducibility and relevance of future behavioral sciences should benefit from a cross fertilization of past recommendations and today's technology: "Back to the future".
abstract: Thanks to the discovery of novel technologies and sophisticated analysis tools we can now 'see' molecules, genes and even patterns of gene expression, which have resulted in major advances in many areas of biology. Recently, similar technologies have been developed for behavioral studies. However, the wide implementation of such technological progress in behavioral research remains behind, as if there are inhibiting factors for accepting and adopting available innovations. The methods of the majority of studies measuring and interpreting behavior of laboratory animals seem to have frozen in time somewhere in the last century. As an example of the so-called classical tests, we will present the history and shortcomings of one of the most frequently used tests, the open field. Similar objections and critical remarks, however, can be made with regard to the elevated plus maze, light-dark box, various other mazes, object recognition tests, etc. Possible solutions and recommendations on how progress in behavioral neuroscience can be achieved and accelerated will be discussed in the second part of this review.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands; Delta Phenomics B.V., Nistelrooisebaan 3, 3574 RE Schaijk, The Netherlands. Electronic address: b.m.spruijt@uu.nl.
authors.forename: Berry M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Spruijt
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands; Delta Phenomics B.V., Nistelrooisebaan 3, 3574 RE Schaijk, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Suzanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands; Delta Phenomics B.V., Nistelrooisebaan 3, 3574 RE Schaijk, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Raymond C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: de Heer
authors.affiliation: Delta Phenomics B.V., Nistelrooisebaan 3, 3574 RE Schaijk, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Helen H J
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Pothuizen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands; Delta Phenomics B.V., Nistelrooisebaan 3, 3574 RE Schaijk, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Johanneke E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: van der Harst
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001331:Automation; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D035841:Behavioral Research / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Animal behavior; Automation; Ethology; Home-cage testing; Open field; Validity