Abstract: A standardized nesting material for use in laboratory environments for rodents includes a latrining substrate, and at least one bale unit formed to include a fibrous scaffolding material, and an insulating material. The bale units are of standardized size and can be packaged and sterilized to provide improved wellbeing of the animals; reduced feed and labor costs; and improved scientific quality of the studies conducted on the animals.

Abstract: A standardized nesting material for use in laboratory environments for rodents includes a latrining substrate, and at least one bale unit formed to include a fibrous scaffolding material, and an insulating material. The bale units are of standardized size and can be packaged and sterilized to provide improved wellbeing of the animals; reduced feed and labor costs; and improved scientific quality of the studies conducted on the animals.

Abstract: A standardized nesting material for use in laboratory environments for rodents includes a latrining substrate, and at least one bale unit formed to include a fibrous scaffolding material, and an insulating material. The bale units are of standardized size and can be packaged and sterilized to provide improved wellbeing of the animals; reduced feed and labor costs; and improved scientific quality of the studies conducted on the animals.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a housing system for conducting high throughput animal experiments. The housing system includes a home cage, at least one rotatable turnstile enclosed by housing to form two or more isolation chambers, a means for animal identification, and one or more action stations functionally coupled to one or more isolation chambers. The turnstile includes a plurality of one or more separation members rotatable about a vertical axis, each isolation chamber bounded by one or more separation members. The action stations contain one or more devices facilitating completion of at least one animal-directed or experimenter-initiated action. In a preferred embodiment, the home cage is sufficiently sized to house a plurality of small animals, such as mice. Tunnel passageways may be connected to the home cage, including one or more tunnel passageways containing a rotatable turnstile.

Abstract: A standardized nesting material for use in laboratory environments for rodents includes a latrining substrate, and at least one bale unit formed to include a fibrous scaffolding material, and an insulating material. The bale units are of standardized size and can be packaged and sterilized to provide improved wellbeing of the animals; reduced feed and labor costs; and improved scientific quality of the studies conducted on the animals.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a housing system for conducting high throughput animal experiments. The housing system includes a home cage, at least one rotatable turnstile enclosed by housing to form two or more isolation chambers, a means for animal identification, and one or more action stations functionally coupled to one or more isolation chambers. The turnstile includes a plurality of one or more separation members rotatable about a vertical axis, each isolation chamber bounded by one or more separation members. The action stations contain one or more devices facilitating completion of at least one animal-directed or experimentor-initiated action. In a preferred embodiment, the home cage is sufficiently sized to house a plurality of small animals, such as mice. Tunnel passageways may be connected to the home cage, including one or more tunnel passageways containing a rotatable turnstile.

Abstract: A system for presenting compound tactile stimuli to a test subject includes a compound tactile stimulus device comprised of a plurality of overlapping stimulus presentation members, each stimulus presentation member including one or more stimulus exemplars related by a specified dimensional property. The device includes manual or automated means for moving and aligning the stimulus presentation members relative to one another to form a predetermined compound tactile stimulus comprised of at least two tactile stimulus exemplars, including at least one exemplar having one or more open spaces allowing the test subject to discriminate between the stimulus exemplars underlying the compound tactile stimulus by extending one or sensory members through the one or more open spaces.