A Decade of Continuous Touch Screen Development

​​First developed at Cambridge University, Bussey-Saksida Rodent Touch Screen Chambers are now used by +300 research groups in over 26 countries. The Bussey-Saksida Chamber has always featured a unique trapezoidal wall shape in order to focus the animal’s attention and facilitates the efficient and high-throughput cognitive evaluation of rodents. The chamber is easily reconfigured to a modular square arena with panels, levers, lights, and a range of other operators to accommodate any task like an operant chamber equipped with a traditional lever or nose-poke.

Evolution: Meet the New Bussey-Saksida Chamber

Video

The Second Generation Bussey-Saksida chamber was built with video in mind. New non-reflective walls and floors will aid video tracking, and IR and ambient lighting located under the chamber lid provide even lighting of the chamber and eliminate glare.

Tethered Animals

Many accommodations for tethers can be made including updated lid and open reward areas to accommodate headstages. A convenient sliding drawer can be added to the environmental cabinet to neatly store and feed the tether.

Electrophysiology

All electronic components are adjusted to reduce EMC. The environmental cabinet is a Faraday cage to prevent outside noise from the surrounding area from entering the chamber. Even the touch screen itself is shielded to reduce noise emission.

Chamber Inclusions

  • Trapezoid walls in a non-reflective finish, to keep the animals focus on the screen and reducing distraction away from the screen.
  • Ultra-sensitive Touch Screen to consistently detect a mouse nose-poke to the touchscreen. Commercially available touchscreens are not sensitive enough to reliably detect every nosepoke.
  • A reward trough that can be place opposite or in front of the screen. While most tasks require the reward trough to be opposite the screen, some tasks (e.g. Autoshaping) require the reward in front of the screen.
  • Pellet or Liquid reward.
  • Activity beams to detect when the animal is at the back or front of the chamber.
  • House and IR lighting
  • Core Intelli-interface

Plug-n-Play Productivity

  • Chambers installed on our Easy Install System, ready to wheel in your lab. Attach the PC and you are ready to go.
  • Fully validated ready written Task Suites which come with training paradigms and testing guidance.
  • ABET Cognition Software gives you programming power, data analysis, versatility, and flexibility; video and audio control also included.
  • Virtual Interface enables the user to easily write their own scheduling and assess the data away from the lab.
  • On-line training to get your lab quickly working with high productivity.

View Easy-Install System

Paradigms

The Bussey-Saksida chamber allows usage of standard, original, and customized paradigms.

Standard Task Paradigms are available by arrangement with the University of Cambridge. Standard tasks include popular Tasks such as PD, PAL, 5CSRT, PRC, Location Discrimination, and many more. The rodent tasks range from simple to complex and are virtually identical to tasks used with NHP & human populations on the CANTAB system.

All paradigms include training routines as well as the main experimental paradigm and the data analysis sets.

NHP/Human CANTAB Equivalent Standard Tasks Typical time to reach baseline Example neural systems involved Clinical area showing impairment
NHP Pretraining to touch an image and initiate a trial (All task except Auto and 5CSRT) 1-2 weeks (e.g., 7-8 week old C57BL6J mice: 5 days) Learning
Human/NHP Pairwise / Visual Discrimination (PD) and Reversal Learning Pretraining + 5-7 sessions test to reach base line Prefrontal Cortex, Perirhinal Cortex, Anterior Cingulate, Posterior Cingulate, Medial Frontal Cortex, Striatum, Dopamine system, Cholinergic system, NMDA receptors. Mediodorsal Nucleus of the Thalamus Huntington’s, Schizophrenia, Parkinson’s, Learning, Cognitive Flexibility, Executive Function.
Human/NHP Paired-Associate Learning Task for Rodents (PAL) Pretraining + 35-45 sessions to 70% Hippocampus, Cholinergic system, NMDA Receptors, AMPA Receptors Alzheimer’s, Schizophrenia, Spacial Memory
NHP Visuomotor Conditional Learning for Rodents (VMCL) Pretraining + Approximately 20 sessions Dorsal Striatum, Posterior Cingulate Cortex Huntington’s, Parkinson’s
Human/NHP 5-choice Serial Reaction Time Task for Rodents (5CSRT) Pretraining (ave 10 sessions) + 3 weeks to 80% @ 2 sec baseline Prefrontal Cortex, Basal Forebrain, Cholinergic (Accuracy), Serotonin (Impulsivity), Noradrenaline (Distraction), Dopamine (Motivation) Alzheimer’s, Depression, Huntington’s, Schizophrenia, ADHD, OCD
Autoshaping for Rodents (Auto) Several sessions (no pretraining required) Ventral Striatum, Amygdala, Anterior Cingulate Cortex, Nucleus Accumbens Dopamine, Pedunculopontine Tegmental Nucleus, D1 and NMDA receptors Huntington’s
Human/NHP Trial-unique Nonmatching-to-Location Task for Rodents (TUNL) Pretraining + 6-24 Sessions to acquire the basic task Hippocampus, Cholinergic system, NMDA Receptors, Prefrontal Cortex Alzheimer’s, Schizophrenia
NHP Location Discrimination for Rodents (LD) Pretraining + 10-20 sessions Hippocampus, Neurogenesis Alzheimer’s, Schizophrenia
NHP Extinction for Rodents (EXT) Approximately 4 sessions training + a sessions days extinction Infralimbic Cortex, Striatum and Amygdala ADHD, OCD
Human 5-Choice Continuous Performance Test for Rodents (5C-CPT) Approximately 13 sessions (based on training in 5-hole box) after training to 5-CSRTT Dopamine, Serotonin, Cholinergic, Parietal, Muscarinic. Schizophrenia, ADHD, OCD, Alzheimer’s
NHP Progressive Ratio and Effort Related Choice Task for Rodents (PR/ERC) 16 sessions from first habituation to reach stable PR performance Dopamine Motivation, Decision Making
Human 4-Choice Gambling Task for Rodents (4C-GT) Pretraining + 4 sessions familiarizing with choices available, then 13 sessions testing Dopamine, Serotonin Bipolar Disorder, Gambling, Depression, OCD, ADHD, Parkinson’s, Schizophrenia, Impulsivity
Human/NHP Rodent Continuous Performance Task: Image for Rodents (rCPT) Pretraining + Approximately 30 sessions Cholinergic system, Anterior Cingulate Cortex Schizophrenia, ADHD, OCD, Alzheimer’s
Human Delay Discounting for Rodents (DD) Pretraining + approximately 13 sessions Dopamine Impulsivity, ADHD
NHP Probabilistic Reversal Learning for Rodents (PRL) Pretraining + Approximately 17 sessions Serotonin Depression

Key Features

Design & Construction

  • Durable, cost-effective build for long-term reliability.
  • Modular chamber design minimizes reconfiguration between studies.
  • Optional square modular walls allow the addition of levers or other modules.
  • Slotted lids accommodate tethered animals.
  • Shockable floor available.

Animal Handling & Ergonomics

  • Easier animal handling with side or top loading as standard.
  • Quiet magnetic-catch door for smooth, low-stress operation.
  • Removable matted floor reduces glare and simplifies cleaning.
  • Two interchangeable front plates with different aperture heights included.
  • Reward trough supports pellet retrieval and dual liquid feeds, with a wider aperture for head-staged animals.

Imaging & Tracking Optimization

  • Light-colored, non-reflective walls enhance contrast for camera-based tracking.
  • Matted, non-reflective floor ensures consistent image capture under varied lighting.
  • Even IR and ambient lighting beneath the lid eliminates glare and shadows.
  • IR tracking beams include instant test mode, improved sensitivity, and extended lifespan.

Electrophysiology & System Integration

  • Optional electrical isolation coating on all contact points (floor, trough, etc.) prevents movement artefacts.
  • Fully compatible with optogenetics, photometry, video tracking, and electrophysiology recording.
  • Integrates easily with third-party systems via TTL input/output lines and low-noise EMC design.
  • Includes 14 validated training tasks plus the ability to create custom paradigms.

Specifications:

Animal Working Area
  • 46mm Wide at Feeder,
  • 238mm Wide at Screen x 170mm Deep (241.4 Sq. cm or 37.5 Sq. in)
  • Working Area is 230mm in Height
Standard Environmental Cabinet
  • Attenuation: Approx. 35dB
  • Weight: 38 kg (empty)
  • External Dimensions: 600mm Wide x 670mm Tall x 352mm Deep
  • Internal Dimensions: 540mm Wide x 610mm Tall x 532mm Deep

Optional Accessories

Precision Pellet Dispenser for 45mg Pellets

Precision food dispenser with dispensing wheel that accommodates 14mg pellets.

Brand: Campden
Model: 80209A-45
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Two-choice Paired/Visual Discrimination Reversal (PD) for Mice

Adapted for mice, this reversal learning task requires inhibition of prepotent responses and is known to be dependent on the prefrontal cortex.

Brand: Campden
Model: 89540A
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Paired-Associate Learning Task (PAL) for Mice

Adapted for mice, this is a hippocampal task. In humans, this task has proved to be highly effective for the early detection of Alzheimer''s disease.

Brand: Campden
Model: 89541A
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Visuomotor Conditional Learning (VMCL) for Mice

Adapted for mice, this is a habit or stimulus-response task in which the rodent learns a conditional rule.

Brand: Campden
Model: 89542A
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5-choice Serial Reaction Time Task (5CSRT) for Mice

Adapted for mice, this task is sensitive to cortical manipulations, especially those involving prefrontal cortex, and is highly dependent on cholinergic transmission.

Brand: Campden
Model: 89543A
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Trial-unique Nonmatching-to-Location Task (TUNL) for Mice

Adapted for mice, this is a working memory task. TUNL is a delayed nonmatching-to-place task that prevents the mediating strategies associated with the equivalent lever task.

Brand: Campden
Model: 89545A
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Location Discrimination (LD) for Mice

Adapted for mice, this is a spatial memory task with a reversal learning component. It is sensitive to hippocampal lesions and associated with glutamate receptor regulation and signaling.

Brand: Campden
Model: 89546A
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Autoshaping (Auto) for Mice

Adapted for mice, this task measures a Pavlovian response to the screen. This is a very rapidly administered test of simple classical conditioning that is dependent on a reward system centered on the ventral striatum.

Brand: Campden
Model: 89544A
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5-Choice Continuous Performance Test (5C-CPT) for Mice

Adapted for mice, this go/no-go task measures both attentional and inhibitory systems within a single task paradigm, enabling the assessment of vigilance.

Brand: Campden
Model: 89548A
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4-Choice Gambling Task (4C-GT) for Mice

Adapted for mice, this test is based on the Iowa Gambling Task, sensitive to serotonergic and dopaminergic agents.

Brand: Campden
Model: 89550A
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Rodent Continuous Performance Task: Image (rCPT) for Mice

Adapted for mice. In this Rodent CPT (Image) task, 5 different images are shown briefly, one at a time and in a random order. One of the images is designated the target stimulus. In order to obtain reward, the subject must touch the target stimulus and withhold from touching the non-target stimuli.

Brand: Campden
Model: 89551A
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Progressive Ratio and Effort Related Choice Task (PR/ERC) for Mice

Adapted for mice, this touch screen task has been shown equivalent to those performed with levers or nose-poke holes in measuring motivation and reward-related decision making.

Brand: Campden
Model: 89549A
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Delay Discounting Task (DD) for Mice

Adapted for mice. As a measure of impulsivity, the Delay Discounting Task (DD) measures how long the rodent is prepared to wait for a larger reward.

Brand: Campden
Model: 89552A
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Precision Liquid Feed Pump

The rate of flow for the Precision Liquid Feed Pump is been calibrated to give precise delivery of liquids at delivery rates suitable for rewarding mouse, rat, and primate.

Brand: Campden
Model: 80204A
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Extinction (EXT) for Mice

Adapted for mice, this is a simple, but powerful, test of behavioral inhibition.

Brand: Campden
Model: 89547A
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Probabilistic Reversal Learning (PRL) for Mice

Adapted for mice. Designed to measure sensitivity to valence feedback information, PRL is sensitive to serotonergic manipulations, suggesting this test may be used to study depression-relevant behavior.

Brand: Campden
Model: 89553A
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Open Reward Trough for Mice with Large Head-stages

Designed to fit the trapezoid walls of the Bussey-Saksida touch screen chamber, this alternative reward trough allows mice to take liquid reward without having to nosepoke into the reward trough.

Brand: Campden
Model: 80614A-07-10
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Slotted Trapezoid Chamber Lid for Mouse Touch Screen Chamber

Slotted chamber lid accommodating free tether movement with built-in under lid IR LED illumination and house light.

Brand: Campden
Model: 80614A-03-02
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Liquid Reward Trough for Mouse Touch Screen Chamber

Reward trough for liquid feed/reward.

Brand: Campden
Model: 80614A-07-01
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Liquid Reward Trough for Mouse Touch Screen Pellet Conversion

Converts the 80614-07-01 to accept pellets. Can be configured to detect either a nose poke or pellet retrieval.

Brand: Campden
Model: 80614A-07-02
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Reward Trough for Mouse Touch Screen Chamber with Electrical Isolation

Reward Trough for liquid feed using electronics with reduced electromagnetic emission and electrical isolation coating for better integration with electrophysiology recording.

Brand: Campden
Model: 80614A-07-03
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Easy-Install System for Touch Screen Systems

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