The light–dark test is an assay of unconditioned anxiety-like behaviour in rodents, in which the animal moves freely between a small dark compartment and a larger illuminated one through an opening [1]. It exploits the conflict between spontaneous exploration of novelty and innate aversion to brightly lit, open areas [2]. Transitions between compartments index activity and exploration, whereas time spent in each compartment reflects aversion [2]; latency to emerge, time and distance in the light and rearing also serve as anxiety measures, while total distance indexes locomotion [3]. Responses depend on strain, age and procedural details including starting compartment and apparatus geometry [3][4], and the test screens compounds for anxiolytic or anxiogenic activity without prior training [2].
- light–dark test
- unconditioned anxiety
- approach–avoidance conflict
- exploratory behaviour
- rodents
Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies • Small Animals • Veterinary • Health Sciences
References
- Jacqueline Crawley; Frederick K. Goodwin; Preliminary report of a simple animal behavior model for the anxiolytic effects of benzodiazepines. Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav. 1980, 13, 167-170. [CrossRef]
- Michel Bourin; Martine Hascoët; The mouse light/dark box test. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 2003, 463, 55-65. [CrossRef]
- Andrew E. Arrant; Nicole L. Schramm-Sapyta; Cynthia M. Kuhn; Use of the light/dark test for anxiety in adult and adolescent male rats. Behav. Brain Res. 2013, 256, 119-127. [CrossRef]
- Natalia Kulesskaya; Vootele Voikar; Assessment of mouse anxiety-like behavior in the light–dark box and open-field arena: Role of equipment and procedure. Physiol. Behav. 2014, 133, 30-38. [CrossRef]