Abstract
The translational value of the marble burying task (MBT) is debatable. Here we performed video analysis of behaviors during the MBT to accurately capture the details of all behaviors displayed during this task. Our results show that a count of marbles buried at the end of the task may not be a good translational correlate of the ‘intentional marble burying’ that the task is assumed to measure. Rather, the number of marbles buried may be measuring accidental marble burying due to ‘rapid digging’. Video analysis during MBT provides a novel approach to characterize the many behaviors displayed during this task and may explain inconsistencies reported in the literature. However, the number of marbles buried at the end of the MBT may still have value as a screening test for anxiogenic or anxiolytic interventions. Any interventions that show significant alterations in the number of marbles buried can be pursued further through more robust and comprehensive behavior scoring methods.
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Data supporting the findings of this study are available within the paper and its Supplementary Information. Raw data that support the findings of this study are available upon request from the corresponding authors. Source data are provided with this paper.
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Acknowledgements
This study was supported by a Department of Defense Autism Research (ARP) Idea Development Award (AR220042) to M.A.K.
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L.A.B. conceptualized the study, designed the study, collected the data, analyzed the data, drafted the manuscript and revised the manuscript. T.B.A. collected the data, analyzed the data and drafted the manuscript. H.A.M. ran behavioral assays and supported video collection. M.A.K. supervised the study, supported data collection, drafted the manuscript and revised the manuscript.
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Lab Animal thanks Haim Einat and Renata Alves for their contribution to the peer review of this work.
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Supplementary information
Supplementary Information
Supplementary Fig. 1.
Supplementary Video 1
Sample video of mouse pushing a marble.
Supplementary Video 2
Sample video of mouse playing with a marble.
Supplementary Video 3
Sample video of mouse uncovering a marble.
Supplementary Video 4
Sample video of mouse investigating marbles.
Supplementary Video 5
Sample video of mouse face grooming.
Supplementary Video 6
Sample video of mouse moving bedding with nose.
Supplementary Video 7
Sample video of mouse hugging the walls of the cage.
Supplementary Video 8
Sample video 1 of rapid digging behavior.
Supplementary Video 9
Sample video 2 of rapid digging behavior.
Supplementary Video 10
Sample video 1 of marble burying behavior.
Supplementary Video 11
Sample video 2 of marble burying behavior.
Supplementary Video 12
Sample video 3 of marble burying behavior.
Supplementary Video 13
Different behavioral phenotypes in the MBT and the final snapshot of marbles buried.
Source data
Source Data Fig. 1
Statistical source data.
Source Data Fig. 2
Statistical source data.
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Burgett, L.A., Alexander, T.B., Moya, H.A. et al. A revision to marble burying: video analysis during the marble burying task is imperative to understanding rodent behavior. Lab Anim 53, 387–389 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41684-024-01459-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41684-024-01459-3
