Primary Assay — Mongolian Gerbil
Digging / Burrowing
Meriones unguiculatus
Gerbils are prolific diggers, and burrowing behavior provides a species-typical behavioral endpoint reflecting motivation, motor function, and environmental enrichment engagement.
Quantitative Output
Measured Parameters
Every parameter is automatically tracked frame-by-frame in the ConductVision pipeline for Meriones unguiculatus.
| Parameter | Unit | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Dig bout frequency | events/session | Digging episodes |
| Burrow depth | cm | Excavation depth |
| Substrate displaced | g | Material moved |
| Digging duration | s | Time spent digging |
References
Citations for Digging / Burrowing
- Loskota WJ, Lomax P, Rich ST. (1974). The gerbil as a model for the study of the epilepsies. Epilepsia, 15(1), 109-119. PMID: 4522520
Compatible Equipment
Hardware for Mongolian Gerbil Research
Seizure Scoring Arena
Epilepsy model testing
Digging Substrate Chamber
Burrowing behavior quantification
Vibration-Sensitive Floor
Foot drumming detection
Open Field Arena
Locomotion and anxiety testing
Video Tracking System
Automated behavior scoring
Related Assays
Other Mongolian Gerbil Primary Assays
05
Seizure Susceptibility Scoring
Meriones unguiculatus
Gerbils exhibit spontaneous seizures scored on the Racine scale. Seizure severity, latency, duration, and post-ictal sup…
05
Foot Drumming (Alarm Signal)
Meriones unguiculatus
Foot drumming is a species-specific alarm signal in gerbils. Drum rate, bout duration, and stimulus threshold quantify a…
05
Open Field
Meriones unguiculatus
Open field exploration in gerbils reveals locomotor activity, anxiety-like behavior (center avoidance), and vertical exp…
Run Digging / Burrowing on ConductVision
Our team will configure the protocol, camera rig, and analysis pipeline for your mongolian gerbil facility.
