Primary Assay — African Clawed Frog Tadpole
Startle / Escape Response (Mauthner-cell mediated)
Xenopus laevis
High-speed analysis of the C-start escape response mediated by Mauthner cells. This reflex provides a direct readout of reticulospinal circuit function and is sensitive to developmental perturbations.
Quantitative Output
Measured Parameters
Every parameter is automatically tracked frame-by-frame in the ConductVision pipeline for Xenopus laevis.
| Parameter | Unit | Description |
|---|---|---|
| C-start latency | ms | Response initiation time |
| Maximum angular velocity | °/s | Turn speed |
| Post-escape swim distance | mm | Escape trajectory length |
References
Citations for Startle / Escape Response (Mauthner-cell mediated)
- Khakhalin AS, et al. (2014). Excitation and inhibition in recurrent networks mediate collision avoidance in Xenopus tadpoles. Eur J Neurosci, 40(6), 2948-2958. PMID: 24995793
Compatible Equipment
Hardware for African Clawed Frog Tadpole Research
Tadpole Observation Chamber
Swimming behavior recording
Vibration Stimulus Platform
Startle/escape triggering
Looming Stimulus Display
Visual avoidance testing
Flow Chamber
Rheotaxis assays
Infrared Camera System
Dark-adapted recording
Related Assays
Other African Clawed Frog Tadpole Primary Assays
02
Swimming Locomotion (CPG)
Xenopus laevis
Central pattern generator-driven swimming analysis measuring cycle frequency, bout duration, and tail beat amplitude. Th…
02
Visual Avoidance (Looming Stimulus)
Xenopus laevis
Looming stimulus avoidance assay testing visual processing and collision avoidance circuitry. Tadpoles respond to expand…
02
Optokinetic Response (OKR)
Xenopus laevis
Quantification of visually driven eye movements in response to moving gratings. OKR gain and contrast sensitivity provid…
Run Startle / Escape Response (Mauthner-cell mediated) on ConductVision
Our team will configure the protocol, camera rig, and analysis pipeline for your african clawed frog tadpole facility.
