This paper describes an automatic system for the analysis and classification of leech behavior. Three colored beads were attached to the dorsal side of a free moving or pinned leech, and color CCD camera images were taken of the animal. The leech was restrained to moving in a small tank or petri dish, where the water level can be varied. An automatic system based on color processing tracked the colored beads over time, allowing real-time monitoring of the leech motion for several hours. At the end of each experimental session, six time series (2 for each bead) describing the leech body motion were obtained. A statistical analysis based on the speed and frequency content of bead motion indicated the existence of several stereotypical patterns of motion, corresponding to different leech behaviors. The identified patterns corresponded to swimming, pseudo-swimming, crawling, exploratory behavior, stationary states, abrupt movements, and combinations of these behaviors. The automatic characterization of leech behavior demonstrated here represents an important step toward understanding leech behavior and its properties. This method can be used to characterize the behavior of other invertebrates and also for some small vertebrates.

Quantitative characterization and classification of leech behavior / Mazzoni, A.; Garcia-Perez, E.; Zoccolan, D.; Graziosi, S.; Torre, V.. - In: JOURNAL OF NEUROPHYSIOLOGY. - ISSN 0022-3077. - 93:1(2005), pp. 580-593. [10.1152/jn.00608.2004]

Quantitative characterization and classification of leech behavior

Zoccolan, D.;Torre, V.
2005-01-01

Abstract

This paper describes an automatic system for the analysis and classification of leech behavior. Three colored beads were attached to the dorsal side of a free moving or pinned leech, and color CCD camera images were taken of the animal. The leech was restrained to moving in a small tank or petri dish, where the water level can be varied. An automatic system based on color processing tracked the colored beads over time, allowing real-time monitoring of the leech motion for several hours. At the end of each experimental session, six time series (2 for each bead) describing the leech body motion were obtained. A statistical analysis based on the speed and frequency content of bead motion indicated the existence of several stereotypical patterns of motion, corresponding to different leech behaviors. The identified patterns corresponded to swimming, pseudo-swimming, crawling, exploratory behavior, stationary states, abrupt movements, and combinations of these behaviors. The automatic characterization of leech behavior demonstrated here represents an important step toward understanding leech behavior and its properties. This method can be used to characterize the behavior of other invertebrates and also for some small vertebrates.
2005
93
1
580
593
10.1152/jn.00608.2004
Mazzoni, A.; Garcia-Perez, E.; Zoccolan, D.; Graziosi, S.; Torre, V.
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Journal of Neurophysiology 2005 Mazzoni.pdf

non disponibili

Tipologia: Versione Editoriale (PDF)
Licenza: Non specificato
Dimensione 1.66 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.66 MB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11767/17083
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 10
  • Scopus 17
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 17
social impact