The Ugo Basile Fear Conditioning system is composed of:
- Isolation cubicle, including all electronics, fan, IR/VIS lights, camera (up to 16 cubicles can be connected to 1 PC)
- The animal cage is available in different dimensions for rats and mice, plus the observational learning version to allow two animals to see each other. The standard cage has a circular opening, but also a vertical door is available
- Video-tracking system is required in only 1 license, no matter how many cages you have
- Electronic shock meter is an optional to measure the current on the grid floor
- Extended warranty is an additional option
Please see the Ordering information below to choose the components that fits your experiment
Fear conditioning is one of the most common methods to measure memory in rodents. It exploits the Pavlovian association between an unpleasant unconditioned stimulus (shock) to a conditioned neutral stimulus (sound cue). The reaction of rodents, as predated animals, is to freeze (stay immobile) when exposed to fearful situations, such as a shock.
Once the association has happened and the animal has memorized it, freezing will happen also when the sound is presented without shock. This is the principle of Fear Conditioning, which is also coupled to the change of the visual/tactile context (appearance) to ensure that the animal is reacting to the association to the sound and not to the environment (cued and contextual fear conditioning)
New Illuminator for Better Lighting and Ease of Use. Enhance your behavioral studies with our innovative, all-in-one lighting solution.
Features | Benefits |
|---|
| NEW Illuminator | Improved light homogeneity, auto-centering, lens focus with no tool needed, easier pass-through for cabled animals, swivel holder (based on your specific swivel) and all in 1 assembly for
easy replacement or service |
One USB cable connection | Seamless installation and connection to PC |
| High throughput | Expandable from 1 to 16 units for high throughput |
Miniaturized USB-IR camera with 2 lenses (normal and fish-eye) | Camera mounted on the ceiling and working in any light conditioning and with any cage dimension |
| Control via ANY-maze or any other software | Super easy to control and fully automated via to perform effortless experiments. Automated Freezing detection and controls for the most accurate results |
Interchangeable contexts | Easy to mount on the walls with different patterns |
| IR and visible illumination | Experiments can be run in light or darkness, also as a tool to alter the context |
| Same software controls devices and analyses freezing | Fast learning curve in building protocols and automatic detection of freezing |
| Cages compatible with tethered animals | Ready for optogenetics, electrophysiology, microscopy |
| Multiple cage dimensions | Most suitable dimensions for rats or mice, observational cage for Social Fear Conditioning and Operant Fear Conditioning for conflict-based and operant tasks in Fear Conditioning |
| All electronics in the cubicle | Simple and cheap upgrade to STARTLE /PPI |
| Operation |
|---|
| Camera | IR sensible (lens 2.1mm and 4mm), visible light filtered |
| Active Silent Ventilation | Yes |
| Read-Out | USB to PC through AnyMaze, TTL I/O |
General |
|---|
Shock | Constant current |
Shock Intensity | from 0.1 to 3mA, in 0.1mA steps |
Shock Duration | Duration: from 0.5 to 60 seconds |
Illumination | Dimmable visible 6500K and IR 850nm |
Sound | 500Hz-18KHz, adjustable volume, max 100dB ± 3dB |
| White Noise | Adjustable volume, max 77dB ± 3dB |
Power | 100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 60W max |
Operating Temperature | 10°C to 40°C; 5% to 95% RH (non-condensing) |
Sound Level | Negligible (sound cue excluded) |
Physical |
|---|
| Dimension | Outer Size | Internal Size |
Cubicle | 52(d)x62(w)x58(h)cm | 39(d)x47(w)x49(h)cm |
| Mouse Cage | 20(w)x24(d)x30(h)cm | 17x17x25(h)cm |
| Rat Cage | 27(w)x32(d)x41(h)cm | 25.5×25.5×36(h)cm |
| Mouse Cage XL | 27(w)x32(d)x41(h)cm | 25.5×25.5×36(h)cm |
| Observational Mouse | 37(w)x24(d)x30(h)cm | 35(w)x17(d)x25(h)cm |
| Front Vertical Door | 29(w)x32.5(d)x41(h)cm | 25.5(w)x26(d)x36(h)cm |
Weight | 20Kg |
Shipping Weight | 43Kg |
Warranty |
|---|
| Warranty | Fear Conditioning is covered by a 12-month warranty + 12 after product registration |
| UB-Care | Additional UB-Care can be added for other 12 or 24 months |
| PC Requirements |
|---|
| PC Requirements | Minimum specification | Recommended specification | Best system |
Windows version | XP service pack 3 | Windows 10 | Windows 11 |
Processor | Pentium Dual-core | Core i3 | Core i7 |
RAM | 1GB | 4GB | 8GB |
Hard drive | 1GB available | 500GB | 1TB |
Display | 1366 x 768px | 1600 x 900px | 1920 x 1080px |
Expansion | Not applicable | Not applicable | PCi express ports |
If you’re planning to track in multiple apparatus, or track for long periods (> 12 hours), or include large numbers (> 500) of animals in experiments then we recommend you use the highest requirements.
