Hole-board test
The hole-board test (HBT) is an experimental method used in scientific research to measure
Concept
The HBT was designed in the 1970s to mitigate the flaws of the
The HBT apparatus is an area with walls around it to prevent escape. The floor of the area is covered with holes. Over the years the HBT apparatus has become more complex. Modern devices are now monitored by computer and have infrared beams.
The three common activities are head dipping, rearing, and locomotion. Head dipping is commonly defined as when the animal puts his head into the hole until its ears are level with the floor or in modern devices when it breaks the infrared beam. Rearing is when the animal stands on its hind legs. Locomotion is the animal moving to a different area with all four paws. If the animal moves into the central area it is as separate observation because the central area is the most threatening to animals. These three behaviors are exploratory and the more they occur, the less anxious the animal is. On the other hand, if the animal doesn't show these behaviors, then it is more anxious.[5]
Scientific procedure
The procedure of this experiment can be modified depending on the behavior being measured. To examine anxiety a single animal is placed in the apparatus for five minutes where it is observed and then removed. Another animal that has been injected with an anxiolytic agent is then placed in the apparatus and then observed. Increased dose of anxiolytics leads to sedation.[1]
To observe
Controversy
Since the root cause of anxiety is
The HBT showing neophilia is also controversial. Since animals show decreased head dipping, scientists conclude that it is a result of the animal becoming less fearful. However other studies have shown that after the amount of time with decreased head dipping, head dipping actually starts to increase, meaning that animals might have gotten bored with the area and are now exploring the holes.[5]