{"id":70,"date":"2026-02-18T20:09:32","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T20:09:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/behavior-tools.com\/?page_id=70"},"modified":"2026-02-18T20:09:32","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T20:09:32","slug":"social-preference-test-spt-en","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/behavior-tools.com\/index.php\/social-preference-test-spt-en\/","title":{"rendered":"SOCIAL PREFERENCE TEST (SPT) (EN)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Social Preference Test in Zebrafish<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Scientific Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Social Preference Test (SPT) evaluates social affiliation and conspecific recognition in zebrafish (Danio rerio). It is extensively used in translational neuroscience models of autism spectrum disorders and neurodevelopmental toxicity.<\/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>Pioneering studies by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Robert Gerlai<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Key references:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Gerlai et al., 2000. DOI: 10.1016\/S0166-4328(99)00167-5<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Saverino &amp; Gerlai, 2008. DOI: 10.1016\/j.bbr.2007.10.024<\/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>Dopaminergic reward circuits<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Oxytocin\/vasotocin signaling<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Serotonergic modulation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Social cognition networks in pallium<\/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>Social affiliation index<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Distance to stimulus shoal<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Interaction frequency<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Social avoidance 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>Three-compartment tank<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Central test fish<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>One compartment with stimulus shoal (3\u20135 fish)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Opposite empty compartment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Duration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>10-minute recording<\/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\">Primary Metrics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Time spent near stimulus<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Preference ratio<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Number of approaches<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Swimming speed<\/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 Validation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>MK-801 \u2192 reduced sociability<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fluoxetine \u2192 enhanced social 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>Preference index = (Social \u2212 Non-social) \/ Total time<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mixed-effects modeling<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ANOVA (treatment \u00d7 sex)<\/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>ASD gene models (shank3, cntnap2)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Endocrine disruptor exposure<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Developmental neurotoxicity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dopaminergic drug screening<\/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>Locomotor confound<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Social dominance effects<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Isolation stress<\/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>Not included in current OECD TGs, but relevant for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Developmental Neurotoxicity (DNT) framework discussions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>TG 236 complementary behavioral endpoints<\/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\">9. Key References<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Saverino &amp; Gerlai, 2008. DOI: 10.1016\/j.bbr.2007.10.024<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gerlai et al., 2000. DOI: 10.1016\/S0166-4328(99)00167-5<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tang et al., 2020. DOI: 10.1038\/s41398-020-0783-7<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Social Preference Test in Zebrafish Scientific Overview The Social Preference Test (SPT) evaluates social affiliation and conspecific recognition in zebrafish (Danio rerio). It is extensively used in translational neuroscience models of autism spectrum disorders and neurodevelopmental toxicity. 1. Historical Background Pioneering studies by: Key references: 2. Neurobiological Basis 3. Scientific Objectives Measure: 4. Standardized Methodology [&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-70","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/behavior-tools.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/70","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=70"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/behavior-tools.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/70\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":71,"href":"https:\/\/behavior-tools.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/70\/revisions\/71"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/behavior-tools.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=70"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}