Technical and conceptual considerations for using animated stimuli in studies of animal behavior

Current Zoology
Laura Chouinard-ThulyKlaudia Witte

Abstract

Rapid technical advances in the field of computer animation (CA) and virtual reality (VR) have opened new avenues in animal behavior research. Animated stimuli are powerful tools as they offer standardization, repeatability, and complete control over the stimulus presented, thereby "reducing" and "replacing" the animals used, and "refining" the experimental design in line with the 3Rs. However, appropriate use of these technologies raises conceptual and technical questions. In this review, we offer guidelines for common technical and conceptual considerations related to the use of animated stimuli in animal behavior research. Following the steps required to create an animated stimulus, we discuss (I) the creation, (II) the presentation, and (III) the validation of CAs and VRs. Although our review is geared toward computer-graphically designed stimuli, considerations on presentation and validation also apply to video playbacks. CA and VR allow both new behavioral questions to be addressed and existing questions to be addressed in new ways, thus we expect a rich future for these methods in both ultimate and proximate studies of animal behavior.

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Citations

Feb 6, 2020·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Liam R Dougherty
Jan 17, 2020·Journal of Fish Biology·Lori H LaPlante, Samantha Delaney
Aug 10, 2017·Royal Society Open Science·Carolin Sommer-TremboDavid Bierbach
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Jan 5, 2021·Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience·Alexis Buatois, Robert Gerlai
Jun 9, 2021·Zebrafish·Alexis BuatoisRobert Gerlai
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Dec 18, 2021·Behavior Research Methods·Yoojin RoRobert Gerlai
Dec 18, 2021·Behavior Research Methods·Luis M Gómez-Laplaza, Robert Gerlai

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Software Mentioned

Adobe Photoshop
Photoshop
CA
VR
PowerPoint
BIOBSERVE
Rite
GIMP
Adobe After Effects
anyFish

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