Methods/Behaviour

Behaviour: linking to function

Behavioural testing in the same animals links molecular measurements to function, and to the symptoms a treatment aims to change.

01 What behaviour shows

Function, and its limits

Function · what animals do

Measures: What animals do — for example motor function, sensitivity to pain, or behaviours used to model aspects of depression.
Strength: Connects molecular findings to function, and to the symptoms that treatments aim to change.
Alone, can't: Explain mechanism. Behaviour has many causes, and animal models capture selected features of a human disorder, not the whole condition.

We also use neurochemical measures in living animals — for example microdialysis — and MRI through collaborations.