Thermal Place Preference for Behavioral Research test

The Thermal Place Preference Test is designed to assess temperature preference, nociceptive thresholds, and pain sensitivity in unrestrained rodents such as mice and rats. The test allows animals to freely choose between two compartments maintained at different temperatures, enabling assessment of their preferred temperature or comfort zone without requiring operator intervention during the behavioral response. The system can be used to investigate responses to cold and heat stimulation and to study the effects of genes or compounds on nociceptive thresholds. Dedicated software can automatically determine the position and time spent by each animal in the different temperature zones, reducing user subjectivity. Manufactured by Atico Export with a focus on reliable performance for animal behavioral, thermal sensitivity, analgesia, and nociception research.

• Thermal nociception studies
• Pain sensitivity research
• Analgesia research
• Temperature preference studies
• Nociceptive threshold assessment
• Cold stimulation studies
• Heat stimulation studies
• Evaluation of compounds affecting pain thresholds
• Gene-related nociception studies
• Animal behavioral research

Test Principle :

• The animal is allowed to move freely between two compartments maintained at different temperatures.
• The animal selects its preferred position or comfort zone.
• Time spent in each temperature zone is recorded.
• Temperature preference and nociceptive responses are evaluated automatically.

Measured Parameters :

• Time spent in each temperature zone
• Percentage of time spent in each temperature zone
• Time of each zone transition
• Temperature of each zone
• Total activity time
• Activity time in each zone
• Total distance travelled
• Distance travelled in each zone
• Zone transition activity

Temperature Range :

• -3°C to +55°C
• Recommended room temperature: 20 to 25°C

Temperature Accuracy :

• ±0.5°C

Maximum Overshoot :

• 0.5°C

Time and Position Measurement :

• 1 second accuracy
• Video analysis

Testing Capacity :

• One rat at a time
• Two mice simultaneously and independently

Animal Cage Dimensions :

• 330 × 165 × 300 mm
• 13 × 6.5 × 11.8 in

Animal Cage Material :

• Clear Plexiglass

System Dimensions :

• 32 × 57 × 45.5 cm (L × W × H)
• 12.6 × 22.4 × 17.9 in
• Dimensions include cage

Power Supply :

• 150 W
• 120/240 VAC

Weight :

• 14 kg

Software :

• Dedicated software for temperature zone configuration and automatic animal position monitoring
• Automatic measurement of animal presence time
• Data export in Excel or TXT format
• Video analysis
• Activity tracking and zone transition detection
• Single-window settings interface
• Compatible with Windows 7/8, 32-bit and 64-bit systems
• 3 USB ports
• 512 MB RAM

Available Setups :

• Two hot-cold plate units with camera, support, and software
• Single unit with two plates, camera, support, and software
• Two-unit configuration can be upgraded to a thermal gradient test using the appropriate upgrade kit

• Operator-independent thermal preference testing
• Designed for nociceptive threshold assessment
• Suitable for unrestrained animals
• Allows animals to freely choose between two temperature zones
• Supports hot and cold stimulation studies
• Automatic position and presence-time detection
• Reduces user subjectivity
• Video-based analysis
• Supports simultaneous testing of two mice
• Supports testing of one rat at a time
• Easily upgradeable to a thermal gradient test with the appropriate upgrade kit
• Improved temperature transition performance
• Stable electronic control