Developing an Effective Training Protocol for Biodetector Rats: A Preliminary Study

Rats have been used as biodedector animals from the diagnosis of diseases/pathological conditions to search and rescue operations or the detection of flammable/explosive/prohibited substances, just like dogs.In this study, it was aimed to create an effective training model by integrating classical and operant conditioning paradigms for biodedector rats. Ten female Sprague Dawley rats were integrated classical and operant conditioning paradigms using a modified and reshaped Skinner box.The animal was expected to ring the bell in the odor chamber, then was rewarded. Following the socialization phase, a training procedure was prepared including a clicker as a conditioned stimulus at every stage and reward food which functioned as an unconditioned stimulus and later served as a positive reinforcer. The studies were organized 5days a week, 1stage per day and 15minutes for each rats. Rats should have received restricted 60% of the food 24 hours before the training.The training procedure targeted the behavior ringing the bell with both paws. Target and non-target behaviors were counted, and percentage changes were determined. It was recorded that while the target behavior realization rate was 628.57%, the change rate of non-target behaviors was 98.33%.This study is a preliminary investigation for training rats as biodetectors, and is still ongoing.The classical and operant conditioning paradigms have been proven to be effective and easy to implement in the training of Sprague Dawley rats. Based on the results of this study, new studies are going to plan to be conducted with a new cage modified with machine learning and artificial intelligence.