{"id":68,"date":"2026-02-18T20:06:18","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T20:06:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/behavior-tools.com\/?page_id=68"},"modified":"2026-02-18T20:06:18","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T20:06:18","slug":"light-dark-preference-test-en","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/behavior-tools.com\/index.php\/light-dark-preference-test-en\/","title":{"rendered":"LIGHT\/DARK PREFERENCE TEST (EN)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Light\/Dark Preference Test in Zebrafish<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Scientific Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Light\/Dark Test measures anxiety-related scototaxis (dark preference) in zebrafish. It is conceptually derived from rodent light\u2013dark box paradigms and quantifies risk assessment versus exploratory drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Historical Background<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Adaptation to zebrafish:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Maximino et al., 2010. <em>Behavioural Brain Research<\/em><br>DOI: 10.1016\/j.bbr.2009.12.031<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Serra et al., 1999 (teleost scototaxis model)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Neurobiological Basis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Serotonergic pathways<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cortisol regulation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Visual system processing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Amygdala-like pallial circuits<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Scientific Objectives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Measure:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Time spent in dark vs light compartment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Latency to first transition<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Number of crossings<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Risk assessment behavior<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Standardized Methodology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Apparatus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Two-compartment tank (equal size)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>One opaque black side<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>One transparent\/light side<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Illumination: 300 lux on light side<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Procedure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>5\u201310 minute recording<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Free access between compartments<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Parameters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>% time in dark<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Transition frequency<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Distance traveled<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Freezing episodes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pharmacological Controls<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Diazepam \u2192 reduced dark preference<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Yohimbine \u2192 increased dark preference<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Statistical Analysis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Paired comparisons<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Two-way ANOVA<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Preference index calculation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Applications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Anxiety pharmacology<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Endocrine disruptors<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Heavy metal exposure<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stress research<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Limitations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Light intensity variability<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Visual acuity differences<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pigmentation bias<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. OECD Context<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Behavioral endpoint potentially relevant to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>OECD TG 236<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>OECD TG 210<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Currently not standardized for regulatory decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9. Key References<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Maximino et al., 2010. DOI: 10.1016\/j.bbr.2009.12.031<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Blaser &amp; Gerlai, 2006. DOI: 10.1016\/j.bbr.2006.02.005<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Light\/Dark Preference Test in Zebrafish Scientific Overview The Light\/Dark Test measures anxiety-related scototaxis (dark preference) in zebrafish. It is conceptually derived from rodent light\u2013dark box paradigms and quantifies risk assessment versus exploratory drive. 1. Historical Background Adaptation to zebrafish: 2. Neurobiological Basis 3. Scientific Objectives Measure: 4. Standardized Methodology Apparatus Procedure Parameters Pharmacological Controls 5. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-68","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/behavior-tools.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/68","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/behavior-tools.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/behavior-tools.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/behavior-tools.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/behavior-tools.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=68"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/behavior-tools.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/68\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":69,"href":"https:\/\/behavior-tools.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/68\/revisions\/69"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/behavior-tools.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=68"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}