SMART

SMART is a complete and user-friendly video-tracking system for evaluating behaviours in experimental animals. It allows the recording of activity, trajectories, events, social behaviour interactions and performs the calculations of a wide range of analysis parameters. The system offers a flexible and easy to learn interface for setting up a wide variety of behavioural tests: Water Maze, Open Field, Plus/Radial Arm Mazes, and Place Preference tests in addition to other user-designed applications.

SMART works with animals located in up to 16 separate enclosures providing both quantitative and qualitative analyses of each animal’s path. Each animal enclosure can be divided into different zone of interest using the specific tools provided by SMART. Up to 31 different zones (and one Exclusion Zone) can be easily drawn with different name and characteristics (Standard, Target, Arm or Hidden). A special tool for Watermaze is included.

Animal trajectories are acquired from Real time TV images or videotaped records and stored enabling you to analyze and re-analyse experiments with different zone configurations and parameters.

TRACKING allows not only acquiring information about the spatial position of the animal but also the automatic detection of a range of specific behaviours. Manually scored behaviours (e.g. grooming) can be calculated for any zone or independent variable.

The SMART system can be expanded for using the Triwise technology for the automated detection of the head, center-mass and base-tail allowing then a more detailed evaluation of some specific behavioural items (rearing, rotations, object exploration, entries into zones, contacts…).

The parameters evaluated are presented in reports entirely configurable by the user. The report coverage can be the full track or it can be split into different intervals of time. Besides, results can be directly and automatically exported to Excel®.

SMART can elaborate a graphic representation/ image of the tracks studied. This option is of great interest to illustrate data in publications and conferences.

An adapted version of SMART, SMART-DT, is provided for free to check data, generate statistics, print out results and obtain graphics. SMART-DT can be installed in as many computers as may be required.

• Parameters characterizing the animal trajectory (distance, speed, permanence time in zone etc.)
• Specific parameters for Morris Water Maze (latency to target, time in walls, wishaw's error, permanence time in quadrants, directionality etc.)
• Specific parameters for social interaction (contacts, relative movements etc.)
• Immobility periods
• Global activity
• Events visualized by the experimenter (using event recorder)
• Rearing (TriWise technology option)
• Clockwise and Counter Clockwise rotations (TriWise technology option)

• Flexible and precise analysis of animal behaviour
• Providing objective data
• Highly user-friendly
• Digital video files analysis
• Entirely configurable Data report
• Zone-dependent camera settings
• Optimized tracking in low contrast conditions
• Activity mapping tool
• Day/night cycle control system
• Immobility detection for forced-swimming test and freezing
• Automated detection of head, center mass and base-tail (Triwise technology option)
• User-defined criteria for zone entry (Triwise technology option)
• Personalized scientific support

• CD and USB protection Key
• Cables, connectors
• Instructions manual
• Free software updates of the acquired system
• Free Technical Assistance
• Free Scientific support
• 2 years warrantly on hardware

• A number of cameras (PAL, NTSC, infrared, b&w, color, etc) provided with lens and cables.
• Material for camera fixation (upon request)
• DVD reader/writer
• Telemetric Switch (remote start/stop switch )
• Frame Grabber Board (PC interface board )
• PC Station
• Multiplexer, Digital switches, Digital recorders are available under request
• Mazes (T maze, Y maze, Plus maze...)