Behavior model
Table of contents
Introduction
A behavior is the behavioral side of a session: what the subjects were doing while the session was recorded. It is one of the parts that describe a session, next to data acquisitions (what was recorded), manipulations (what was delivered) and epochs (when). Behaviors are recorded in subject-based sessions only.
Each behavior records one behavioral assay actually performed, with particular subjects, on a particular rig. It links the standardized task description (via the assay) with the physical apparatus (via the setup). A behavior has no type of its own; the assay supplies that, and the behavior stores no task parameters.
A session and its parts. The behavior, drawn solid, says what the subjects were doing; data acquisitions and manipulations say what was recorded and delivered, and epochs say when. A behavior runs a behavioral assay on a setup; how those two are defined is shown under How it fits together.
Fields
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
Session | Session of the behavior (required). Must reference an existing session. |
Subjects | Every subject that took part (required). The choices come from the session’s own subjects, so add a subject to the session first if it is missing here. Select all participants rather than creating one behavior per animal. |
Setup | The physical rig the behavior ran on (required). Must reference an existing setup where you are at least a Contributor. |
Behavioral assay | The lab method performed (required). Must reference an existing behavioral assay where you are at least a Contributor. |
Order | Where this behavior appears among the session’s behaviors. Does not imply a start time. |
Notes | What was specific to this occurrence: deviations, technical problems, notable outcomes (string; maximum length: 500 characters). Anything that repeats every run belongs on the assay. |
Behaviors can be linked to epochs of the session.
How it fits together
The behavioral track (left) and the setup track (right) run from the shared taxonomies through your lab’s personal attributes and meet in a behavior recorded in a session. This page describes the behavior, drawn solid. The setup type category is a field of the setup type, not a separate record.
A behavior is the junction point of two independent hierarchies, and both must be defined before you can record a behavior.
A behavior (this page) combines a behavioral assay with a specific physical setup and the subjects involved, within a session. The setup type of the chosen setup is shown beside the field so you can check the rig suits the assay.
The assay and the setup are personal attributes reached through their groups, while the behavior belongs to the session’s projects. You need to be at least a Contributor on both the assay and the setup to record a behavior with them.
Example
| Level | Example |
|---|---|
| Behavioral assay | EPM 5-min test |
| Setup | EPM rig B, Room 108 |
| Subjects | Mouse 01, Mouse 02 |
| Behavior | Session 2026-06-01: Elevated Plus Exploration, trial 1 |
Permissions
Behaviors inherit permissions through the projects of their associated session. The subject, setup and assay selectors are separately restricted to entries you may use.
Visit the permissions page to learn more.
API access
The API allows for programmable access to behaviors. Learn more about the behaviors’ fields and data structure on the Behaviors API page.