A comprehensive and standardized pipeline for automated profiling of higher cognition in mice
In rodent behavior research, observer-independent methods, such as the IntelliCage, enhance data collection in a social, and thus stress-reduced, environment. The IntelliCage system allows experimenters to create cognitive challenges for mice motivated by rewards. Given the extensive and diverse data from IntelliCage, there is a high demand for automated analysis. Here, we introduce IntelliR, a free and standardized pipeline for analyzing IntelliCage data, including a cognition index for performance comparison across challenges. IntelliR supports the automatic analysis of three challenges that cover spatial, episodic-like, and working memory with their reversal tests and can also be adapted for other designs. Results from three cohorts of adult female C57B6 mice showed improved task proficiency over time. To validate cognitive impairment detection, we used adult female NexCreERT2xRosa26-eGFP-DTA mice after neuron ablation in cortex and hippocampus, in which we observed reduced learning capabilities. IntelliR integrates easily into research, improving time management and reproducibility.
Authors
- Justus Wilke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1368-159X)
- Sahab Arinrad (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7083-1358)
- Liu Ye (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8745-3873)
- Umer Javed Butt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6313-5939)
- Klaus‐Armin Nave (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8724-9666)
- Sabine Kraus (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1946-6487)
- Kamilla Woznica Miskowiak (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2572-1384)
- Anja Ronnenberg
- Hannelore Ehrenreich (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8371-5711)
- Vinícius Daguano Gastaldi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6249-6035)
- Martin Hindermann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5123-7193)
- Yasmina Curto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7630-894X)
- Antonios Ntolkeras (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-0748-4358)
- Jonathan‐Alexis Cortés‐Silva
- Anne-Fleur Wildenburg (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3534-3884)
- Micah J Provost (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2486-958X)
Institutions
- Guangxi Medical University (CN)
- Heidelberg University (DE)
- Frederiksberg Hospital (DK)
- University Hospital Heidelberg (DE)
- Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine (DE)
- Max Planck Research Unit for Neurogenetics (DE)
- Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences (DE)
- University of Göttingen (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Cell Reports Methods
- Published
- 2025-03-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crmeth.2025.101011
- Citations
- 6
- Primary Topic
- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 5.45
Funders
- Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Medical Research Foundation
- Max-Planck-Förderstiftung
- European Commission
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
- International Max Planck Research School for Advanced Methods in Process and Systems Engineering
- HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme
- European Research Council