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A guideline for analyzing circadian wheel-running behavior in rodents under different lighting conditions

Abstract

Most behavioral experiments within circadian research are based on the analysis of locomotor activity. This paper introduces scientists to chronobiology by explaining the basic terminology used within the field. Furthermore, it aims to assist in designing, carrying out, and evaluating wheel-running experiments with rodents, particularly mice. Since light is an easily applicable stimulus that provokes strong effects on clock phase, the paper focuses on the application of different lighting conditions.

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Correspondence to Urs Albrecht.

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Open Access This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0 ), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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Jud, C., Schmutz, I., Hampp, G. et al. A guideline for analyzing circadian wheel-running behavior in rodents under different lighting conditions. Biol. Proced. Online 7, 101–116 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1251/bpo109

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1251/bpo109

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