Learning Test Systems

gemini™ Avoidance System

Active and passive avoidance testing for both rats & mice

SDI’s GEMINI™ Avoidance System is designed for active avoidance and passive avoidance testing in rats and mice. It can be configured with up to 8 enclosures for testing large groups of animals. Each enclosure starts and runs independently. Converting the GEMINI system to test mice instead of rats is possible in less than five minutes.

The GEMINI test station is a two compartment enclosure with interchangeable rat or mouse grid floor, 16 photobeams for precise location of the animal, 2 LED “house” and 2 “cue” lights, 2 sound speakers and the SDI animal shocker – a solid state feedback-controlled, constant current shocker with 8 unique outputs. SDI’s GEMINI shocker is the only one of its kind to display the actual current being administered to the subject.

In Avoidance Testing, the test subject is run through a series of trials during which they receive one or more Conditioned Stimulus (CS) - Cue light, LED House light, Gate and/or a sound signal generated from a sound card in the PC or Laptop. Even the GEMINI gate can be used as a stimulus in active avoidance testing. The CS alerts the subject that an Unconditioned Stimulus (US) - foot shock or air puff - will be applied if the subject does not respond correctly to the CS. The test subject is supposed to remain in the current chamber during passive avoidance testing and move to the opposite chamber in active avoidance testing. Another feature of GEMINI’s software is the investigators ability to delay the onset of the US – foot shock or air puff – so it is not associated with the closing of the gate, thus affecting the test subjects learning ability.

The GEMINI software uses an intuitive, graphical user interface to present options to the investigator in a logical order while setting up and running Active Avoidance and Passive Avoidance paradigms; such as “classic” Active/Passive Avoidance, Active/Passive Avoidance Trials-to-Criterion, or Continuous Avoidance. GEMINI’s latest software includes the flexibility to set “consecutive” and “stop” parameters for the trial type. When “consecutive” is checked, the Criterion trials must be successfully accomplished consecutively. When stop is checked, if the Criterion number of trials cannot be accomplished because the maximum number of trials left is insufficient, the session will end.

GEMINI’s software automatically records the data gathered during the Trial Session and stores the data in the Study Microsoft Access database. Trial Session data can be displayed on the computer monitor screen or the data file can be exported with one click to Excel or another delimited file (TAB, CSV, etc.) suitable for other statistical programs.

GEMINI’s upgraded hardware replaces the PC interface board with a USB cable, allowing investigators to conveniently connect up to 8 GEMINI avoidance systems via a standard USB hub. Furthermore, this feature allows tests to be created from any PC or Laptop and uploaded to the system prior to the study.

gemini™ Avoidance System Features

• Reliable, accurate avoidance learning data
• Increased productivity for psychopharmacology & neurobehavioral testing with computer integration
• Up to 8 enclosures for rapid testing of large groups of animals
• Each enclosure runs independently
• Easy-to-use, menu-based software
• CE compliant
• FDA CFR Part 11 compliant

gemini Avoidance System Components

• Active & Passive Avoidance Software (on CD ROM)
• Driver Software (on CD ROM)
• Test station with 2 chambers and grid floor for rats (or mice), 16 photobeams, 2 LED “house” and 2 “cue” lights, two sound speakers and Auto Door
• Cables, connectors and power supply
• USB Hub (for multiple station GEMINI configurations)

gemini Optional Components

• Air puff stimulation unit (AIRSTIM)
• Additional test stations
• Mouse passive avoidance start box
• Grid floors (for rats or mice)

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