Protocol for the quantitative assessment of social and nonsocial reward-seeking in mice using an automated two choice operant assay

The complexity of social behaviors makes it difficult to study the neural mechanisms that underlie them. Here, we describe an automated, low-cost two choice operant assay to directly compare social and nonsocial reward-seeking in mice. We provide instructions for the assembly of the operant chamber and conducting behavioral experiments, which include a graphical user interface (GUI)-based acquisition system that can be readily combined with various experimental manipulations. This assay allows for the characterization of social and nonsocial behaviors and their associated neural mechanisms. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Isaac et al.¹.