EthoVision -Model XT -Animal Video Tracking Software
EthoVision XT is the most widely applied video tracking software that tracks and analyzes the behavior, movement, and activity of any animal.
Why use it?
- A cost-effective solution for all standard behavioral tests such as the Morris water maze and open field testing
- High-throughput and high-content testing
- Suitable for sophisticated test-protocols
Over the last 25 years, EthoVision XT has evolved from video tracking software into a software platform. Designed to be at the core of your lab, EthoVision XT offers integration of data and automation of behavioral experiments with any animal.
Video tracking technology is versatile and we want you to have software that fits the bill for all of your experiments, from straight-forward protocols such as open field or Morris water maze testing to high-throughtput protocols or the automation of optogenetics or operant conditioning tests.
What is video tracking?Video tracking means detecting an animal in a video file or from a live video feed, distinguishing it from its background, and tracking its whereabouts and movements. This is at the core of EthoVision XT.
In addition to tracking, EthoVision XT can also detect activity changes at pixel-level, ideal for studying behaviors such as freezing. You can also manually or automatically score behavioral events, such as rearing or grooming.
As you can imagine the resulting coordinates and time stamps allow for many different kinds of analyses. EthoVision XT extracts a number of parameters (velocity, distance moved, time spent in a certain zone, and many, many more), and there are several ways to visualize your results, such as in the form of plots, graphs, tracks, and heatmaps.
Integration platformWhen you define areas of interest in your arena, EthoVision XT relates movement, activity, and behavior to these zones, and use this information to base control of external equipment on. For example, drop a pellet as the mouse enters the correct arm of a radial arm maze.
EthoVision XT can also be used to integrate optogenetics, operant conditioning, and physiological data streams into your experiment.
Work remotelyDue to the COVID-19 pandemic, many users of EthoVision XT are currently facing lab closures and have to work from home. We can imagine you want to keep research projects going by continuing your video tracking and/or data analysis work remotely. So here are a couple of options that hopefully make the transfer to your home office as easy as possible.
Examples of recent publications- Iturra-Mena, A. M.; Aguilar-Rivera, M.; Arriagada-Solimano, M.; Pérez-Valenzuela, C.; Fuentealba, P. & Dagnino-Subiabre, A. (2019). Impact of stress on gamma oscillations in the rat nucleus accumbens during spontaneous social interaction. Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience, 13, 151.
- Phillips, K. F., Santos, E., Blair, R. E. & Deshpande, L. S. (2019). Targeting Intracellular Calcium Stores Alleviates Neurological Morbidities in a DFP-Based Rat Model of Gulf War Illness. Toxicological sciences, 169(2), 567-578.
- Sharon, G., Cruz, N. J., Kang, D. W., Gandal, M. J., Wang, B., Kim, Y. M., ... & Bramer, L. M. (2019). Human Gut Microbiota from Autism Spectrum Disorder Promote Behavioral Symptoms in Mice. Cell, 177(6), 1600-1618.
- A great track record
25 years of experiences and evolution, used at more than 2,500 sites worldwide, and validated in thousands of publications in renowned journals.
EthoVision is by far the most cited video tracking system. Source: Google Scholar. - Versatile and scalable
It is a versatile and scalable solution: at the core of your lab, EthoVision XT can be used for basically any behavioral test, with any animal.
- Clear and intuitive
The program is set up in a clear and intuitive manner: easy to use for both first time and experienced users.
- Help along the way
EthoVision XT helps you along the way, with templates, built-in video tutorials, and a searchable user manual.
- Best tracking results
Superior detection methods and automatic detection settings get you the best tracking results, fast. It works well under both normal and IR lighting conditions.
- Live tracking
You can track live or from video. EthoVision XT can handle large video files. You can also record files, while tracking live.
- Diverse video input options
EthoVision XT works with a large range of cameras, including analog, USB, and GigE. You can track one or more animals from multiple camera inputs simultaneously.
- High-throughput and high-content
Up to a hundred arenas and up to 16 animals per arena can be tracked simultaneously.
- Detailed arena definition
You can define up to 10,000 zones in an arena, combine them into cumulative zones, indicate hidden zones, etc.
- Powerful analysis tools
With powerful analysis tools, you get reliable results, presented in a way that’s easily incorporated into your papers.
- Many available parameters for analysis
The amount of parameters available for analysis is substantial. Some examples: trial duration, in zone, distance to zone, distance, to zone border, distance moved, velocity, heading, turn angle, angular velocity, mobility, proximity, rotation, elongation, and more.
- Activity detection
In addition to video tracking the animal, EthoVision XT also detects activity: changes at pixel-level from one frame to the next.
- Batch acquisition and analysis
Batch acquisition and analysis make things move along smoothly when you are running a large battery of tests. Let EthoVision XT work for you overnight!
- Free analysis
Free analysis on an unlimited number of computers: the license key is only necessary for data acquisition.
- Available in software only or complete package
EthoVision XT is available as software only, or in a complete package deal including mazes and other equipment.
- Free technical support
Free technical support worldwide and 24/7.