Automated acoustic detection of mouse scratching

PLoS One. 2017 Jul 5;12(7):e0179662. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179662. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Itch is an aversive somatic sense that elicits the desire to scratch. In animal models of itch, scratching behavior is frequently used as a proxy for itch, and this behavior is typically assessed through visual quantification. However, manual scoring of videos has numerous limitations, underscoring the need for an automated approach. Here, we propose a novel automated method for acoustic detection of mouse scratching. Using this approach, we show that chloroquine-induced scratching behavior in C57BL/6 mice can be quantified with reasonable accuracy (85% sensitivity, 75% positive predictive value). This report is the first method to apply supervised learning techniques to automate acoustic scratch detection.

MeSH terms

  • Acoustics / instrumentation
  • Algorithms
  • Animals
  • Automation / instrumentation
  • Automation / methods*
  • Chloroquine / analogs & derivatives
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Pruritus / chemically induced
  • Pruritus / diagnosis*
  • Pruritus / physiopathology*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Skin / drug effects
  • Skin / physiopathology*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • chloroquine diphosphate
  • Chloroquine