Primary Assay — Hydra
Spontaneous Contraction Bursts (CBs)
Hydra vulgaris
Hydra exhibits rhythmic full-body contractions every few minutes, driven by RP1 nerve-net oscillators. CB rate, amplitude, and inter-burst interval index neural-net excitability.

Quantitative Output
Measured Parameters
Every parameter is automatically tracked frame-by-frame in the ConductVision pipeline for Hydra vulgaris.
| Parameter | Unit | Description |
|---|---|---|
| CB frequency | bursts/h | Contraction rate |
| CB amplitude | % body length | Shortening magnitude |
| Inter-burst interval | s | Period between bursts |
| Body elongation | mm | Resting length |
References
Citations for Spontaneous Contraction Bursts (CBs)
- Passano LM, McCullough CB. (1964). Co-ordinating systems and behaviour in Hydra. I. Pacemaker system of the periodic contractions. J Exp Biol, 41, 643-664. PMID: 14225981
Compatible Equipment
Hardware for Hydra Research
Multi-Well Behavioral Imaging Plate
High-throughput Hydra behavior
Time-Lapse Microscopy Stage
Long-duration recording
Light-Gradient Arena
Phototaxis assays
Bisection / Regeneration Tracking Setup
Recovery time-course
GCaMP-Compatible Imaging System
Whole-organism neural recording
Related Assays
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Phototaxis
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Run Spontaneous Contraction Bursts (CBs) on ConductVision
Our team will configure the protocol, camera rig, and analysis pipeline for your hydra facility.