Source Paper
Lack of striatal-enriched protein tyrosine phosphatase affected the serotonin system, behavior, and brain morphology in mice
Moskaliuk V, Komleva P, Khotskin N, Arefieva A, Shevelev O et al.
Front Psychiatry • 2026
Operant Wall
behavioralMouseC57BL/6-Ptpn5_KO and C57BL/6
Objective: To evaluate associative learning capabilities in mice using an operant conditioning paradigm with food pellet rewards
Protocol Steps
1
Setup timing
Activate the operant wall during specific hours while mice are in the PhenoMaster-equipped cage
View evidence from paper
“The operant wall was turned on from 15:30 to 17:30 during the mice's presence in the PhenoMaster-equipped cage”
2
Habituation day
Provide free pellet reward without requiring any task performance to familiarize animals with the reward
View evidence from paper
“As animals were not subjected to food deprivation, to arouse their interest and familiarize with the reward, a pellet was dispensed without any tasks at habituation day”
3
Task training
Require animals to perform tasks to obtain food pellet rewards over 3 consecutive days
View evidence from paper
“During the next 3 days, to get the reward, the animal had to perform tasks”
4
Data collection
Record the total number of pellets received and nose pokes performed during days 2 and 3 of task training
View evidence from paper
“To assess the learning capabilities, the total number of received pellets and performed nose pokes were recorded during the task of days 2 and 3”