ActivityMonitor

Activity Monitor

Activity and movement are fundamental diagnostic parameters of animal behaviour. However, measuring long-term individual movement within groups was not possible until recently. Our ActivityMonitor provides accurate individual movement data in a fully automated way. This is a unique solution for the 24/7 long-term tracking of individual animals living in groups which requires no operator attention.

The sensor plate placed underneath a cage detects individuals and tracks them as they move through the cage. Automated and long-term assessment of individual activity is made possible without having to place individuals in separate cages. The ActivityMonitor utilises advanced RFID-technology. See how it works in a video.

Features Applications Options Gallery References
  • Calculations:
    Distances travelled
    Spatial preferences
    Move time
    Rest time
    Movement velocity
  • Based on RFID-technology (transponder)
  • Fully automated, 24/7 for every tagged animal
  • Efficient space use since individuals stay in group cage.

RFID Technology

The ActivityMonitor is based on RFID-technology. It allows the tracking of an individual in a group.

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology identifies and tracks an individual within a group of animals. All animals have to carry subcutaneous transponders. These transponders require no battery and are powered by the electro-magnetic fields emitted by the RFID-Readers.

  • Measurement of individual locomotor activity and distances
  • Ideal for rat and mouse models of hyperactivity, movement disorders (i.e. ADHD, Parkinson’s), neuropathic pain, and arthritis
  • Determination of individual spatial preferences within a group cage.
  • Application Note

Available for different cage types such as Eurostandard type III and IV.

Plate with RFID-sensors for tracking the tagged animals.
Easy to clean.

Plate with RFID-sensors and home cage without bedding.

Plate with RFID-sensors and home cage with bedding.

Complete setup with boxed-up sensor array and type IV cage.

Activity Monitor

The sensor plate placed underneath a cage detects individuals and tracks them as they move through the cage.

Alonso, L., Peeva, P., Ramos-Prats, A., Alenina, N., Winter, Y., & Rivalan, M. (2020). Inter-individual and inter-strain differences in cognitive and social abilities of Dark Agouti and Wistar Han rats. Behavioural brain research, 377, 112188.

Frahm, S., Melis, V., Horsley, D., Rickard, J. E., Riedel, G., Fadda, P., … & Schwab, K. (2018). Alpha-Synuclein transgenic mice, h-α-SynL62, display α-Syn aggregation and a dopaminergic phenotype reminiscent of Parkinson’s disease. Behavioural Brain Research, 339, 153-168.

Reismann, D., Stefanowski, J., Günther, R., Rakhymzhan, A., Matthys, R., Nützi, R., … & Naundorf, S. (2017). Longitudinal intravital imaging of the femoral bone marrow reveals plasticity within marrow vasculature. Nature communications, 8(1), 1-15.

Rivalan, M., Munawar, H., Fuchs, A., & Winter, Y. (2017). An automated, experimenter-free method for the standardised, operant cognitive testing of rats. PloS one, 12(1), e0169476.