Calibration of computer-monitored running wheels with adjustable drag

Abstract

The design of a rodent running wheel with adjustable drag and ability to measure accurately the direction as well as the speed of running is described. A computer program in the C language enables a single microcomputer to monitor several wheels simultaneously. Drag is conveniently calibrated by the rate of deceleration from 1 revolution per second when no animal is present, and the calibration procedure can also assess the smoothness of the drag mechanism. Results of tests of the setability, repeatablility, and durability of the drag are presented. A method is outlined to determine the physical work required to accelerate the wheel and to maintain its rotation against the frictional drag.Running wheels have long been a useful tool in examining a variety ofphysiological and psychological phenomena such as instrumental responses in learning (Brogden,

Wheel running behavior is impaired by both surgical section and genetic absence of the mouse corpus callosum

“…The wheel was mounted in a plastic box (32 × 32 × 30 cm) with a metal nest box (15 × 12 × 10 cm) available through the wall opposite the running wheel. The time of each one-third turn of the wheel was registered by photocells that sent data to a computer [33]. A mouse lived in the wheel test box continuously for 5 days and had free access to the usual water and laboratory chow at all times.…”