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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2021 Apr 1.
Published in final edited form as: Behav Neurosci. 2020 Apr;134(2):153–165. doi: 10.1037/bne0000360

Table 2.

Behavioral ethogram

Category and
Specific Behaviors
Measurement Brief Descriptions
Object Manipulation Duration Use of hands or mouth to nonaggressively grab, hold, and explore the stimulus object
Fearful Cumulative Frequency
 Freeze1 Frequency Rigid, motionless posture (except slight head movement) for at least 3 seconds in duration
 Crouch Frequency Whole body, or just front bent with head near floor
 Withdrawal Frequency Quick, jerky motion away from the stimulus object (jump back)
 Grimace Frequency Refracted lips, exposed clenched teeth
Hostile Cumulative Frequency
 Threat bark Frequency Low pitch, high intensity, rasping, guttural
 Threat Frequency Any of the following: open mouth (no teeth exposed), head-bobbing, or ear flapping
 Cage aggression Frequency Vigorously slaps, shakes, or slams body against cage
 Lunge Frequency A quick, jerky movement toward the stimulus
Coo vocalizations Frequency Clear soft pitch and intensity, sounds like “ooooh”
Stereotypies Cumulative Duration
 Pacing Duration Repetitive motor pattern around the test cage
 Motor stereotypy Duration Repetitive, abnormal voluntary or involuntary motor patterns (e.g. swinging, twirling, flipping)
Anxiety2 Cumulative Frequency
 Scratch Frequency Rapid scratch of body with hands or feet
 Body shake Frequency Shake of the whole body or just head and shoulders region
 Tooth grind1 Frequency Repetitive, audible rubbing of upper and lower teeth
 Yawn Frequency Open mouth widely, exposing teeth
Affiliative2 Cumulative Frequency
 Grunt Frequency Deep, muffled, low intensity, almost gurgling sound
 Lipsmack Frequency Rapid movement of pursed lips, accompanied by a smacking sound
 Present Frequency Rigid posture (knees locked) with tail elevated and rump oriented toward the stimulus object

List of all behaviors scored, how they are measured and a brief definition.

1.

Behavior for which total duration was also measured.

2.

Behavior that was primarily seen during Social Aversive Stimuli trials.