This research was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health MH 086960-01A1 (Christa K. McIntyre).

在这个协议中描述的所有程序进行，根据美国国立卫生研究院指南实验动物的护理和使用，他们被批准由得克萨斯大学达拉斯分校的机构动物护理和使用委员会。 1.建设VNS袖口<ol><li>创建一个钻井工具被锯掉一个22½摹针的尖底。 </li><li>运行22个半摹针现在钝端了一个金属文件多次压平。握住针以45度角的文件并运行它多次在该文件同时旋转它。这将导致金属变得更薄和卷起向内。注意:插入手术刀的尖端插入针的切割端，并与一些向下的力转动到打出的金属。 </li><li>用放大镜望远镜在第1节的其余步骤。 </li><li>使用手术刀（10或15刀片）切割管材为4mm段。 </li><li>将一个4毫米段过小钻头或其他类似形状的工具。这是为了保持管件的地方，当它被操纵。 </li><li>钻4个孔入管（ 图1A）。孔应通过2mm见方使四个点的2毫米和应清洁，无粗糙的边缘。 注:该钻井工具需要被重磨（步骤1.2），每2或3个孔。难度与这个步骤几乎可以肯定是由于钻井工具不够清晰。 </li><li>与油管仍然在钻头，使用手术刀沿纵向切开的孔之间的管道，使得两个孔最终在切割（ 图1B）的任一侧。 </li><li>用缝纫针和缝合线，通过缝合穿过孔以创建索具周围的迷走神经的压脉袋的最后的位置。开始与袖带内的针和通过孔之一通它，然后再返回经过从（ 图1C）的外侧相邻的孔。扳平thread从塑料一起〜2厘米使得管和螺纹作出一个三角形。允许〜8厘米线结后修剪。重复此过程，在切割的相对侧上的孔。该管道是现在可以连线。 </li><li>准备电线袖口。 <ol><li>削减铂铱丝成70毫米段。 </li><li>使用最好的小费珠宝火炬，创造一个尖锐的火焰，蓝色中心，这是因为精炼越好，使用它剥去约1厘米的电线塑料涂层。适用于火焰的蓝色中心到导线的裸端创建一个小球。应用火焰的蓝色中心到几个百分点的剥离部分的熔合七股线一起。在这些点线将出现扭结。 </li><li>在电线上的相对端，施加火焰的蓝色中心到端创建一个小球。最小化剥离塑料就这样结束了。 </li></ol></li><li>接线箍（ 图1D）。 注:科技教育PS在第1.10必须在放大镜望远镜来完成。 <ol><li>用胶带将袖口向下使用线程，以便它的方向为切割运行水平。紧拉的螺纹，使得袖带拉开，然后用胶带向下的螺纹。 </li><li>抓住电线准备用5＃镊子剥离一侧的球状端和推动通过右下角的孔。拉钳子出洞，而使导线的端部，在压脉袋的中间。 </li><li>重新把握裸线的球状端部（现在箍的中间），并通过右上方孔推。拉钳子出洞，而使通过在压脉袋的顶侧的箍和松散完全通过电线。 </li><li>重新把握裸线的球状端部（现在在顶侧袖口外），并将其推回通过从内侧右上方孔。继续这样做，直到电线固定到位:通过测试拉着线的另一端​​。 注意:在此过程中是非常关键的区分电线的剥离/绝缘部分。最终将被定位在压脉袋的"槽"的金属丝必须被剥离，但底部孔内（底端压脉袋外）下的所有内容必须绝缘。这确保输送电流只向迷走神经。 </li><li>把握绝缘侧的球状端，并通过从所述压脉袋的内部右下方孔推，循环它周围一次。 </li><li>重复步骤1.10.2 - 1.10.5的袖带，使两根导线最终固定到管道，一个在右侧，另一个在左侧的左侧。 </li><li>将金销入伸出援手与孔朝上的手臂。填充焊剂的孔。 </li><li>焊接导线（现在连接于袖带）插入针的绝缘端。 </li><li>允许焊料冷却，然后再次熔化。这确保了导线的端部和i之间的良好的连接nside引脚。如有必要，应用更焊料。重复第二线。 </li><li>与运行在正确的引线，标记用永久性标记箍的顶部。还标记附着在顶端引线的金销。 </li></ol></li></ol> 2.施工Headcap的VNS输入网站<ol><li>削减26 AWG铜线30毫米段。剥去端的一小部分。 </li><li>切窄端关闭松金销和焊接线的剥离端的金脚的切割端。创建两个线/针化合物为每个所需的输入位点。放置一个连接器插入帮助手和焊接的线/针化合物与每个连接器（ 图2G）的两个助熔齿的线端。 </li><li>标记与Sharpie笔的电线中的一个。在手术过程中，定位与所述标记的导线喙无标记线的植入物。 </li></ol> 3.手术VNS <ol><li>搬运vagu的创建自定义工具玻璃手术在S神经。 <ol><li>使用硼硅酸盐玻璃拉微量，使其具有长的锥形尖端。如果没有吸管拉马可用，打破玻璃打造一个较长的边缘。 </li><li>持用厚布的移液管的非锥形端（防止烫伤），然后按锥形/断端的成光滑耐火表面而施加的蓝色火焰从珠宝炬到锥形端。因为它被压入表面玻璃会弯曲。用明火直到钩或J形形式。 </li></ol></li><li> VNS手术过程<ol><li>收集和消毒所有的工具。准备一个卫生，加热手术区。 </li><li>麻醉动物用氯胺酮/赛拉嗪（85毫克/公斤，5毫克/公斤，IP）。通过监测动物的叫声和戒断反射响应于脚趾和/或尾巴捏评估麻醉平面的深度。 </li><li>剃头动物的脖子的顶部和左侧。保护动物的眼睛矿工人油或眼膏。申请用纱布清洁碘溶液，然后用酒精纱布剃光领域。重复一次。 </li><li>注入0.05毫升麻卡因皮下上的头顶部，并允许丸药以同时将动物放入立体定位仪分散。 </li><li>用手术刀做一个切口在头骨上的皮肤都暴露Lambda和前囟门。通过使用钝钳到隧道皮下从切口部位向下的左侧耳前到颈部左侧准备袖带的路径。 </li><li>拉切口部位止血与开放。使用棉签，应用过氧化氢，以暴露颅骨以除去任何剩余的组织。 </li><li>使用手术刀，钻两个浅浅的首发洞的头骨放置锚螺丝。它们应该放置得足够远，以允许室的植入物，但不能太靠近周围的组织。避免直接对中线放置螺丝。 <ol><li>随着力ps和螺丝刀，带动骨螺钉到这两个孔。螺钉应紧在孔，与帽2 - 3毫米头骨表面上方以允许余地丙烯酸填写下方和周围的螺丝。 </li></ol></li><li>下填充空间，左右之间，以及用少量的丙烯酸的螺钉，避免周围组织。然后将丙烯酸的用量较大，​​在两个螺钉之间的颅骨的中间。 </li><li>抓住植入物，以便标记线被定向喙无标记线和快速地放置植入物中的丙烯酸类，注意不要让丙烯酸入金销，卡环区，或在上面的输入位点。一旦定位允许设置〜5分钟，待干。这也可以使用立体定位为支撑的臂实现。在植入和颅骨与丙烯酸的低粘度的混合之间的任何裂缝或缺口填补。晾干。 </li><li>用放大镜望远镜在3.2节中的其余步骤。 </li><li>第删除Ë动物从立体定位仪。放置在其右侧的动物，稍微转动而朝向腹侧位置。 </li><li>使大约在左颈静脉小切口。颚骨和锁骨应大致等距离到切口部位。使用钝器解剖扩大切口，直至到达肌肉层。该胸锁乳突肌，胸骨舌骨肌，肩胛舌骨和肌肉应该是可见的。用拉钩肌肉保持网站开放。 </li><li>继续钝解剖沿着肌肉之间的自然沟。寻找颈动脉的脉动。通过向脉冲肌肉标题将揭示颈动脉。拉背部肌肉与肌肉的牵引器。含有颈动脉鞘也含有迷走神经。仔细解剖钝的剪刀护套。 </li><li>确定迷走神经。它是在颈动脉鞘最大神经，通常是对动脉的动物的左侧但可以在任何一侧找到。切换到定制玻璃工具和从颈动脉分开的迷走神经。神经应无任何其它组织的至少5毫米。 </li><li>从切口上的头，使用该螺纹上的引线相对的压脉袋的一侧，通过预先制成皮下隧道用镊子或小止血拉袖带。通过组织将其推入切口部位在颈部。 </li><li>使用玻璃工具轻轻抬起神经向上推的螺纹上的神经下引线相对的压脉袋的一侧。一路经过拉线程，注意不要划到神经。袖带应立即相邻的神经。 </li><li>确保袖口的取向是标有&#39;顶&#39;端优越。拖放神经入箍的中间。神经现在应该跨两个导线在于袖带（ 图2B）的槽。绑在一起的线程收袖口。 </li><li>在headcap，插上连接到袖口进入黄金引脚上的刺激输入网站的引脚。请将标销插入附着在模拟输入网站最前牙的金脚。 </li><li>以验证该箍正确刺激迷走神经，执行呼吸测试通过，所述刺激器连接到刺激输入网站上headcap和运行刺激的停止（0.3毫安，60赫兹，最多10秒）。呼吸要短暂停留和心脏率应该放弃，袖带验证功能。 </li><li>安全的刺激输入网站与丙烯酸销。覆盖电线，并验证暴露针和线不会导致短路。使用丙烯酸平滑过度颠簸的任何或填写任何空白。晾干。 </li><li>关闭缝合切口两个站点。注入0.05毫升麻卡因皮下接近颈部切口部位。应用抗生素软膏切口部位。任选地，离开阳连接器就位在刺激输入位置到防止在愈合过程中的损坏或阻塞。 </li><li>对待抗生素，并按照标准术后护理包括适当的镇痛。回到动物畜舍设施的恢复，他们的流动性后。允许恢复5天。为了保证最大的长寿和headcap功能，房子单独的动物为实验的其余部分。 注:假手术VNS大鼠经历相同的手术，但该电路被设计成短于headcap的水平（ 即，一个headcap植入和迷走神经是从颈动脉中分离，但没有电极套周围放置神经）。 </li></ol></li></ol> 4.听觉恐惧条件注:此恐惧条件协议较为密集比大多数21，因为这些实验的目标是提高灭绝。用温和的恐惧条件，很容易熄灭，地面效应可以掩盖这一增强。 </p&gt; <ol><li>房子的动物在12小时的光/暗循环随意获得食物和水。从手术后恢复期间每天处理的动物。 </li><li>建立调节和检测仪器，包括一个操作性箱装在一个声音衰减室（ 图2C）的。操作性盒具有透明塑料壁，20×20×20厘米，并有一个不锈钢格栅地板，它连接到一个足电击发生器。使用白色的房子光照亮室视频录制。使用9千赫，85分贝声压级音作为条件刺激。 </li><li>使用位于腔室内，上述的操作性框的数字照相机记录的行为。查看和监控位于客房行为以外的计算机上的会话。保存视频供日后分析。 </li><li>擦拭用70％乙醇室前，每次会议之后，以消除嗅觉线索。 </li><li>恐惧条件大鼠2天（ 图3A）。确认老鼠是不纳利怕口气由第一天呈现5吨（9千赫，85分贝，30秒）。确保冻结水平是可以忽略不计。 <ol><li>按照最初的基调演讲有8音电击（1秒，0.5 mA）的配对在每个连续2天。第二天再重复音电击配对。变化2和4分钟之间的相互刺激间隔（ISI），平均3分钟，每试验。随机在该震荡基调期间发生点。 </li></ol></li><li>第三天，测试音/休克协会的力量。播放4的色调与3在没有footshocks的ISI，4或5分钟（4分钟平均值），并且在音调介绍和在刺激间间隔中作为条件恐惧响应措施记录动物的冷冻行为（CFR）。 </li><li>第4天，开始消退训练与迷走神经刺激或深水VNS。 <ol><li>从stimulato将阳连接器将老鼠变成了刺激r记录到刺激输入位置。地方动物进入所述腔室（ 图2A，2C）。在30赫兹设置刺激〜0.4毫安，500微秒的脉冲宽度。设置刺激的30.15秒的总时间，开始150毫秒的基调发病前。扮动物4种色调（如步骤4.6）和配对每一个音调呈现与迷走神经刺激或深水VNS。 </li></ol></li><li>定期测试的袖口和投入现场使用示波器的电气完整性。 <ol><li>堵塞动物在正常和从刺激到示波器分割的输出。 </li><li>设置示波器为-20 V范围内，以+ 20V和运行刺激。在30赫兹的刺激波形应该是在示波器上可见。超刺激的大小10 V表示高阻状态和不当运作袖口或刺激输​​入站点连接。 </li></ol></li><li>上测试消退训练VNS的效果运行第二CFR测试（如在步骤4.6）在第5天记录所花的时间中陈述语气冻结和比较第一CFR测试（步骤4.6）中记录基线冻结。 </li><li>分析采用独立的观察员谁是盲目的治疗条件的视频。测量时间花费在用秒表基调演讲冻结。冻结被定义为完整不动，在此期间，大鼠表现出快速呼吸，降低头部，并扩散爪子22。冻结行为分析，可以分为两个阶段:在基调演讲和刺激间的时间间隔中。 </li></ol> 5. 在诱发电位的体内录音注意:此步骤是可选的。诱发电位（交易所指数基金）的异氟烷麻醉大鼠安装在立体定向仪，按照标准程序23,24被记录复职的测试后24小时（5天）。 <ol><li>收集和消毒所有的工具。 </li><li>诱导麻醉用异氟烷（5％在100％的氧气，流量1升/分钟）在一个透明的塑料腔室。通过监测动物的叫声和戒断反射响应于脚趾和/或尾巴捏评估麻醉平面的深度。使用矿物油或眼药膏，以保护眼睛。 </li><li>注入0.05毫升麻卡因皮下上的头顶部，并允许快速浓分散。用手术刀和止血从头骨取出headcap。用尽可能少的力量，尽可能避免混淆前囟门。 </li><li>将动物在立体定位仪。用手术刀扩大切口，显露两个拉姆达和前囟门。维持麻醉平面经由鼻锥异氟烷（在100％的氧气3％，流量1升/分钟）。 </li><li>钻孔进入infralimbic前额叶皮质（IL）和基底外侧杏仁核（BLA）以上的头骨。低的玻璃微电极（2M氯化钾1-2兆欧电阻）到BLA（D / V:7.2，A / P:2.7，M / L:4.9，从囟）和stimulat离子电极插入内侧前额叶皮质的IL区（D / V:4.6，A / P:3.0，M / L:0.7，从囟）（ 图4A）。 </li><li>刺激IL唤起了BLA期货转现货。在图4中所示的数据是使用以下设置获得:0.3毫秒持续时间阿刺激脉冲，使用刺激强度是对应于最小电流强度是诱发的最大场响应的40％（基于之前确定的输入输出曲线上收集基线数据），每交付15秒。 </li><li>诱导突触可塑性前15分钟 - 收集了至少10基准数据。 注意:用于唤起突触可塑性将随实验的要求，并且必须由每个实验者仔细选择的协议。在图4C的数据示出了在最小电流强度，唤起变化在以下3个脉冲串的100个脉冲，在50赫兹（2秒）的EFP，用20秒间脉冲间隔d是最大场响应。 </li><li>测量EFP的振幅作为所述刺激伪迹之前和5毫秒窗口的平均值之间的差的5毫秒窗口约20的平均值 - 25毫秒的刺激伪迹后，对应于该场电位的负峰值。正常化数据到基线，并设置一个10分钟基线的平均为100％。使用的另外10分钟期间的平均EFP振幅可塑性诱导后（ 例如，40 - 50分钟后诱导），以评估在EFP振幅的长期变化。 </li><li>在记录结束后斩首麻醉动物并提取大脑。准备组织进行电极放置组织学检验。 </li></ol>

The authors have no competing interests or conflicts.

我们在这里是，用于曝光的单个会话条件线索19期间促进的条件性恐惧灭绝和调节可塑性在infralimbic皮质和基底外侧杏仁核可能介导消光学20之间的通路的协议。此协议的成功的一个关键步骤是VNS的过程中消退训练正确的交付。因此，应特别注意给予袖带电极的构造和安置周围迷走神经的袖口。在袖带电极的施工过程中，它确保导线的暴露部分是在正确的位置是很重要的。同样地，...

古典恐惧条件提供了一种广泛使用的动物模型来研究焦虑症的生物学基础。期间恐惧条件，厌恶的刺激（非条件刺激，US，例如 ，一个电击）的输出，结合一个中性刺激，例如铃声和/或上下文（条件刺激; CS）。在恐惧条件，CS和美国之间的关联而形成的。最终，CS的单独呈现一个引起恐惧反应（该条件反应; CR）。在恐惧消退中，CS反复提出在没有美国，造成CR到逐渐减少1。因此，条件性恐惧灭绝是其中可怕的行为反应，以中性刺激衰减，当他们不再预测厌恶成果的活动进程。是不是条件反射灭绝，需要巩固与协会了解到新的竞争回忆。焦虑症的特点是IMPAIRED灭绝2-4。因此，条件性恐惧的动物模型灭绝同时作为抑制性的学习和行为作为治疗人类焦虑症5,6模型的一个重要范例。 因为恐惧和焦虑的人之间的紧密对应关系，它认为这些研究可以提供洞察焦虑有关的疾病如创伤后应激障碍的生物特性，将帮助制定战略对待他们。临床前研究的一个重要目标是帮助灭绝学习和诱导针对性可塑性灭绝电路，以巩固学习灭绝。迷走神经刺激（VNS）是可能被用于提供的脑区和接合在一个正在进行的任务突触紧时间和电路的特定调制微创神经假方法。最近的一系列研究，从迈克尔Kilgard小组在得克萨斯大学达拉斯分校有表明配对VNS与分立感觉或运动的刺激（ 如铃声或杆拉）是促进大脑皮层的可塑性治疗耳鸣7，或中风后8-10克服运动障碍非常有效。此外，非偶然VNS发生在很短的时间窗口后，学习同样促进大脑皮层的可塑性，增强记忆的巩固大鼠和人类中11-13。 考虑在副交感神经通路的迷走神经的作用，这并不奇怪，它可能参与调节记忆和突触可塑性。高度情绪化的事件往往产生于非情感记忆更强的回忆。这可能是由于应激激素对记忆巩固的影响。应激激素肾上腺素Posttraining施用增强记忆巩固在人类和非人类动物，但肾上腺素不穿过血-脑屏障14,15 </suP&gt;。因此，压力引起的肾上腺素释放，必须影响大脑间接地增强记忆的巩固。有力的证据表明，在迷走神经可以是循环肾上腺素和大脑之间的联系。宫下和威廉姆斯16发现，肾上腺素的全身给药提高迷走神经发射，并增加去甲肾上腺素水平的杏仁核17。肾上腺素全身用药不增强记忆的巩固，当β肾上腺素能受体阻断杏仁核18表明迷走神经在，变成情感激发经验转化为长期记忆通路的作用。 因此，VNS配对与培训，以提高支持记忆的巩固和暴露于空调线索在没有加固的增强灭绝学习大鼠19,20巩固脑部变化的潜力。在这里，我们描述了使用的一个VNSSA工具，以促进大脑皮层的可塑性和便利条件性恐惧反应灭绝。

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Alcohol</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Atropine</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>A0132-5G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Betadine</td>
			<td>Henry Schein</td>
			<td>69066950</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hydrogen peroxide&#160;</td>
			<td>CVS</td>
			<td>209478</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ketamine</td>
			<td>Henry Schein&#160;</td>
			<td>1129300</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Marcaine</td>
			<td>Henry Schein</td>
			<td>6312615</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mineral Oil</td>
			<td>CVS</td>
			<td>152355</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Neosporin</td>
			<td>CVS</td>
			<td>629451</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Oxygen</td>
			<td>Home Depot</td>
			<td>304179</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pennicillin</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>PENNA-10MU</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Propane</td>
			<td>Home Depot</td>
			<td>304182</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Xylazine</td>
			<td>Henry Schein</td>
			<td>4019308</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tools</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Jewelery Torch</td>
			<td>Smith Equipment</td>
			<td>23-1001D</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sewing Needle</td>
			<td>Walgreens</td>
			<td>441831</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>#5 Forceps (2)</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>11254-20</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Soldering Iron</td>
			<td>Home Depot&#160;</td>
			<td>203525863</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>AmScope SM-4TX-144A 3.5X-45X Circuit Board Boom Stereo Microscope + 144 LED</td>
			<td>AmScope</td>
			<td>SM-4TX-144A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Helping Hands</td>
			<td>A-M Systems&#160;</td>
			<td>726200</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Scalpel Blade Holder</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>10003-12</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Metal File</td>
			<td>Home Depot</td>
			<td>6601</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ruler</td>
			<td>Home Deopt</td>
			<td>202035324</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Curved Hemostats&#160;</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>130009-12</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fine Scissors</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>14058-09</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Spatula</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Small Screwdriver</td>
			<td>Home Depot</td>
			<td>646507</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Magnetic Fixator Retraction System</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>18200-04, 18200-01, 18200-05</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Heating Pad</td>
			<td>Walgreens</td>
			<td>30294</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Clippers</td>
			<td>Walgreens</td>
			<td>277966</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sharpie</td>
			<td>Staples</td>
			<td>125328</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ring Forceps</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>11103-09</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Custom Micropipette Glass Tools (J shape and Straight) - Borosilicate glass</td>
			<td>Sutter Instrument</td>
			<td>B150-110-10</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Adson Forceps</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>11006-12</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cuffs</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tubing</td>
			<td>Braintree Scientific Inc</td>
			<td>MRE-065</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Platinum Iridium Wire</td>
			<td>Medwire</td>
			<td>10IR9/49T</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Gold Pins</td>
			<td>Mill-Max</td>
			<td>1001-0-15-15-30-27-04-0</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Suture Thread</td>
			<td>Henry Schein</td>
			<td>100-5797</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>22 G Needles</td>
			<td>Fisher&#160;</td>
			<td>14-815-525</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Paper Tape</td>
			<td>Fisher&#160;</td>
			<td>03-411-602</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Solder</td>
			<td>Home Deopt</td>
			<td>327793</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Flux&#160;</td>
			<td>Home Deopt</td>
			<td>300142</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Scalpel Blade, 10 or 15</td>
			<td>Stoelting</td>
			<td>52173-10</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Silastic Laboratory Tubing .51 mm ID x .94 mm OD</td>
			<td>Fisher&#160;</td>
			<td>508-002</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Headcaps</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Connector Pieces (male)</td>
			<td>Omnetics Connector Corporation</td>
			<td>A25001-004</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Headcap pieces (female)</td>
			<td>Omnetics Connector Corporation</td>
			<td>A24001-004</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Teets Dental Acrylic, Liquid and Powder</td>
			<td>A-M Systems</td>
			<td>525000, 526000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>26 Gauge Solid Copper Wire</td>
			<td>Staples</td>
			<td>1016882 &#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Surgery</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bone Screws</td>
			<td>Stoelting+CB33:C61</td>
			<td>51457</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Scalpel Blades, 10 or 15</td>
			<td>Stoelting</td>
			<td>52173-10</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1 ml syringes</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>14-826-261</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>22 G Needles</td>
			<td>Fisher&#160;</td>
			<td>14-815-525</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>27 G Needles</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>14-826-48</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2&#34; x 2&#34; Gauze</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>22-362-178</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Swabs</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>19-120-472</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Puppy Pads</td>
			<td>PetCo</td>
			<td>1310747</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Kim Wipes</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>06-666-A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td colspan="2">Chamber and Behavioral Setting&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Husky Metal Front Base Cabinet (30WX19DX34H)</td>
			<td>Home Depot</td>
			<td>100607961</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Quiet Barrier&#173; HD Soundproofing Material (Sheet) (PSA)</td>
			<td>soundproofcow.com</td>
			<td>10203041</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Convoluted Acoustic Foam Panel</td>
			<td>soundproofcow.com</td>
			<td>10432400</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Isolated Pulse Stimulator Model 2100</td>
			<td>A-M Systems</td>
			<td>720000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Digital Camera - Logitech Webcam C210</td>
			<td>Logitech</td>
			<td>B003LVZO88</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MatLab</td>
			<td>Mathworks.com</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sinometer 10MHz Single Channel Oscilloscope</td>
			<td>Sinometer</td>
			<td>CQ5010C</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>OxyLED T-01 DIY Stick-on Anywhere 4-LED Touch Tap Light</td>
			<td>OXYLED</td>
			<td>B00GD8OKY0</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>5k ohm potentiomter</td>
			<td>Alpha Electronics</td>
			<td>B00CTWDHIO</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Extech 407730 40-to-130-Decibel Digital Sound Level Meter</td>
			<td>Extech Instruments</td>
			<td>B000EWY67W</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DSCK-C Dual Output, scrambled shocker</td>
			<td>Kinder Scientific Co</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

vagus nerve stimulation as a tool to induce plasticity in pathways relevant for extinction learning

Extinction describes the process of attenuating behavioral responses to neutral stimuli when they no longer provide the reinforcement that has been maintaining the behavior. There is close correspondence between fear and human anxiety, and therefore studies of extinction learning might provide insight into the biological nature of anxiety-related disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, and they might help to develop strategies to treat them. Preclinical research aims to aid extinction learning and to induce targeted plasticity in extinction circuits to consolidate the newly formed memory. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a powerful approach that provides tight temporal and circuit-specific release of neurotransmitters, resulting in modulation of neuronal networks engaged in an ongoing task. VNS enhances memory consolidation in both rats and humans, and pairing VNS with exposure to conditioned cues enhances the consolidation of extinction learning in rats. Here, we provide a detailed protocol for the preparation of custom-made parts and the surgical procedures required for VNS in rats. Using this protocol we show how VNS can facilitate the extinction of conditioned fear responses in an auditory fear conditioning task. In addition, we provide evidence that VNS modulates synaptic plasticity in the pathway between the infralimbic (IL) medial prefrontal cortex and the basolateral complex of the amygdala (BLA), which is involved in the expression and modulation of extinction memory.

本节中示出了可以通过使用VNS结合灭绝学习，以减少在大鼠条件恐惧反应的表达来获得的结果的例子。对于1和2天（听觉恐惧条件反射），大鼠进行了培训，对听觉恐惧条件任务中footshocks进行搭配的基调。 3（预处理试验）日，音被提出在没有footshocks测量冰点水平，并推断出条件性恐惧反应的收购。第4天收到的（治疗）大鼠组特定消退训练和治疗​​:4基调演讲中搭配无论是VNS或假刺激或扩展灭?...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Vagus Nerve Stimulation as a Tool to Induce Plasticity in Pathways Relevant for Extinction Learning at JoVE.com

Vagus Nerve Stimulation as a Tool to Induce Plasticity in Pathways Relevant for Extinction Learning

迷走神经刺激（VNS）已成为一种工具来促使针对性的突触可塑性的脑修改范围的行为。本协议描述了如何实现VNS方便灭绝的恐惧记忆的巩固。

迷走神经刺激作为一种工具来诱导可塑性相关途径灭绝学习

Extinction describes the process of attenuating behavioral responses to neutral stimuli when they no longer provide the reinforcement that has been ...

vagus-nerve-stimulation-as-tool-to-induce-plasticity-pathways

Research

JoVE Journal

Behavior

23.2K 次观看.  The University of Texas at Dallas. 迷走神经刺激（VNS）已成为一种工具来促使针对性的突触可塑性的脑修改范围的行为。本协议描述了如何实现VNS方便灭绝的恐惧记忆的巩固。 

视频: Vagus Nerve Stimulation as a Tool to Induce Plasticity in Pathways Relevant for Extinction Learning

The Crossmodal Congruency Task as a Means to Obtain an Objective Behavioral Measure in the Rubber Hand Illusion Paradigm

The rubber hand illusion (RHI) is a popular experimental paradigm. Participants view touch on an artificial rubber hand while the participants' own hidden hand is touched. If the viewed and felt touches are given at the same time then this is sufficient to induce the compelling experience that the rubber hand is one's own hand. The RHI can be used to investigate exactly how the brain constructs distinct body representations for one's own body. Such representations are crucial for successful interactions with the external world. To obtain a subjective measure of the RHI, researchers typically ask participants to rate statements such as "I felt as if the rubber hand were my hand". Here we demonstrate how the crossmodal congruency task can be used to obtain an objective behavioral measure within this paradigm.
The variant of the crossmodal congruency task we employ involves the presentation of tactile targets and visual distractors. Targets and distractors are spatially congruent (i.e. same finger) on some trials and incongruent (i.e. different finger) on others. The difference in performance between incongruent and congruent trials - the crossmodal congruency effect (CCE) - indexes multisensory interactions. Importantly, the CCE is modulated both by viewing a hand as well as the synchrony of viewed and felt touch which are both crucial factors for the RHI.
The use of the crossmodal congruency task within the RHI paradigm has several advantages. It is a simple behavioral measure which can be repeated many times and which can be obtained during the illusion while participants view the artificial hand. Furthermore, this measure is not susceptible to observer and experimenter biases. The combination of the RHI paradigm with the crossmodal congruency task allows in particular for the investigation of multisensory processes which are critical for modulations of body representations as in the RHI.

We demonstrate how an objective measure can be employed in the widely employed rubber hand illusion paradigm. This measure is obtained by modifying the well-established crossmodal congruency task. This task allows the investigation of multisensory processes which are critical for modulations of body representations as in the rubber hand illusion.

一致性的任务作为一种手段来获取目标行为的措施中的橡胶手错觉范式Crossmodal

The rubber hand illusion (RHI) is a popular experimental paradigm. Participants view touch on an artificial rubber hand while the participants' own hidden ...

科研

行为学

Uncovering Beat Deafness: Detecting Rhythm Disorders with Synchronized Finger Tapping and Perceptual Timing Tasks

A set of behavioral tasks for assessing perceptual and sensorimotor timing abilities in the general population (i.e., non-musicians) is presented here with the goal of uncovering rhythm disorders, such as beat deafness. Beat deafness is characterized by poor performance in perceiving durations in auditory rhythmic patterns or poor synchronization of movement with auditory rhythms (e.g., with musical beats). These tasks include the synchronization of finger tapping to the beat of simple and complex auditory stimuli and the detection of rhythmic irregularities (anisochrony detection task) embedded in the same stimuli. These tests, which are easy to administer, include an assessment of both perceptual and sensorimotor timing abilities under different conditions (e.g., beat rates and types of auditory material) and are based on the same auditory stimuli, ranging from a simple metronome to a complex musical excerpt. The analysis of synchronized tapping data is performed with circular statistics, which provide reliable measures of synchronization accuracy (e.g., the difference between the timing of the taps and the timing of the pacing stimuli) and consistency. Circular statistics on tapping data are particularly well-suited for detecting individual differences in the general population. Synchronized tapping and anisochrony detection are sensitive measures for identifying profiles of rhythm disorders and have been used with success to uncover cases of poor synchronization with spared perceptual timing. This systematic assessment of perceptual and sensorimotor timing can be extended to populations of patients with brain damage, neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Parkinson&#8217;s disease), and developmental disorders (e.g., Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).

Behavioral tasks that allow for the assessment of perceptual and sensorimotor timing abilities in the general population (i.e., non-musicians) are presented. Synchronization of finger tapping to the beat of an auditory stimuli and detecting rhythmic irregularities provides a means of uncovering rhythm disorders.

揭开节拍耳聋:检测节律紊乱与同步手指敲击和感知定时任务

A set of behavioral tasks for assessing perceptual and sensorimotor timing abilities in the general population (i.e., non-musicians) is presented here ...

Protocol for Studying Extinction of Conditioned Fear in Naturally Cycling Female Rats

Extinction of conditioned fear has been extensively studied in male rodents. Recently, there have been an increasing number of studies indicating that neural mechanisms for certain behavioral tasks and response behaviors are different in females and males. Using females in research studies can represent a challenge because of the variation of gonadal hormones during their estrous cycle. This protocol describes well-established procedures that are useful in investigating the role of estrogen in fear extinction memory consolidation in female rats. Phase of the estrous cycle and exogenous estrogen administration prior to extinction training can influence extinction recall 24 hr later. The vaginal swabbing technique for estrous phase identification described here aids the examination and manipulation of naturally cycling gonadal hormones. The use of this basic rodent model may further delineate the mechanisms by which estrogen can modulate fear extinction memory in females.

Gonadal hormones such as estrogen modulate memory formation in a number of experimental paradigms including fear extinction memory. This protocol describes a set of methods for investigating the influence of gonadal hormones specifically during extinction in naturally cycling females, including estrous cycle monitoring and exogenous estrogen administration.

协议在骑自行车自然雌性大鼠学习条件性恐惧灭绝

Extinction of conditioned fear has been extensively studied in male rodents. Recently, there have been an increasing number of studies indicating that ...

Quantifying Learning in Young Infants: Tracking Leg Actions During a Discovery-learning Task

Task-specific actions emerge from spontaneous movement during infancy. It has been proposed that task-specific actions emerge through a discovery-learning process. Here a method is described in which 3-4 month old infants learn a task by discovery and their leg movements are captured to quantify the learning process. This discovery-learning task uses an infant activated mobile that rotates and plays music based on specified leg action of infants. Supine infants activate the mobile by moving their feet vertically across a virtual threshold. This paradigm is unique in that as infants independently discover that their leg actions activate the mobile, the infants&#8217; leg movements are tracked using a motion capture system allowing for the quantification of the learning process. Specifically, learning is quantified in terms of the duration of mobile activation, the position variance of the end effectors (feet) that activate the mobile, changes in hip-knee coordination patterns, and changes in hip and knee muscle torque. This information describes infant exploration and exploitation at the interplay of person and environmental constraints that support task-specific action. Subsequent research using this method can investigate how specific impairments of different populations of infants at risk for movement disorders influence the discovery-learning process for task-specific action.

A method is described in which 3-4 month old infants learn a task by discovery and their leg movements are captured to quantify the learning process.

量化学习婴幼儿:跟踪腿操作期间发现，学习任务

Task-specific actions emerge from spontaneous movement during infancy. It has been proposed that task-specific actions emerge through a discovery-learning ...

A Treatment Package without Escape Extinction to Address Food Selectivity

Feeding difficulties and feeding disorders are a commonly occurring problem for young children, particularly children with developmental delays including autism. Behavior analytic interventions for the treatment of feeding difficulties oftentimes include escape extinction as a primary component of treatment. The use of escape extinction, while effective, may be problematic as it is also associated with the emergence of challenging behavior (e.g., extinction burst). Such challenging behavior may be an acceptable side effect in treatment cases where feeding problems are severe and chronic (e.g., failure to thrive). However, in more acute cases (e.g., selective eating), the negative side effect may be unwarranted and undesired. More recent research on the behavioral treatment of food selectivity has begun to evaluate treatments for feeding difficulties that do not include escape extinction (e.g., demand fading, behavioral momentum), with some success. However, research to date reveals individual differences in responsiveness to such treatments and no clear preferable treatment has emerged. This manuscript describes a multi-component treatment package that includes shaping, sequential presentation and simultaneous presentation, for the treatment of food selectivity in four young children with developmental delays. This treatment package extends the literature on the behavioral treatment for food selectivity and offers a multi-component treatment protocol that may be clinically applicable across a range of treatment scenarios and settings.

Feeding difficulties are a common problem for children with developmental disorders, including autism, and behavioral interventions often include escape extinction. Recent research has begun to evaluate treatments that do not include escape extinction. This manuscript describes a multicomponent treatment package that does not use escape extinction to treat feeding difficulties.

一个疗程装没有逃脱灭绝解决粮食选择性

Feeding difficulties and feeding disorders are a commonly occurring problem for young children, particularly children with developmental delays including ...

Combined Shuttle-Box Training with Electrophysiological Cortex Recording and Stimulation as a Tool to Study Perception and Learning

Shuttle-box avoidance learning is a well-established method in behavioral neuroscience and experimental setups were traditionally custom-made; the necessary equipment is now available by several commercial companies. This protocol provides a detailed description of a two-way shuttle-box avoidance learning paradigm in rodents (here Mongolian gerbils; Meriones unguiculatus) in combination with site-specific electrical intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) and simultaneous chronical electrophysiological in vivo recordings. The detailed protocol is applicable to study multiple aspects of learning behavior and perception in different rodent species.
Site-specific ICMS of auditory cortical circuits as conditioned stimuli here is used as a tool to test the perceptual relevance of specific afferent, efferent and intracortical connections. Distinct activation patterns can be evoked by using different stimulation electrode arrays for local, layer-dependent ICMS or distant ICMS sites. Utilizing behavioral signal detection analysis it can be determined which stimulation strategy is most effective for eliciting a behaviorally detectable and salient signal. Further, parallel multichannel-recordings using different electrode designs (surface electrodes, depth electrodes, etc.) allow for investigating neuronal observables over the time course of such learning processes. It will be discussed how changes of the behavioral design can increase the cognitive complexity (e.g. detection, discrimination, reversal learning).

Shuttle-box avoidance learning is well-established in behavioral neuroscience. This protocol describes how shuttle-box learning in rodents can be combined with site-specific electrical intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) and simultaneous chronical in vivo recordings as a tool to study multiple aspects of learning and perception.

联合穿梭盒子训练与电的Cortex记录和刺激作为一种工具来研究感知和学习

Shuttle-box avoidance learning is a well-established method in behavioral neuroscience and experimental setups were traditionally custom-made; the ...

Using a Virtual Store As a Research Tool to Investigate Consumer In-store Behavior

People&#39;s responses to products and/or choice environments are crucial to understanding in-store consumer behaviors. Currently, there are various approaches (e.g., surveys or laboratory settings) to study in-store behaviors, but the external validity of these is limited by their poor capability to resemble realistic choice environments. In addition, building a real store to meet experimental conditions while controlling for undesirable effects is costly and highly difficult. A virtual store developed by virtual reality techniques potentially transcends these limitations by offering the simulation of a 3D virtual store environment in a realistic, flexible, and cost-efficient way. In particular, a virtual store interactively allows consumers (participants) to experience and interact with objects in a tightly controlled yet realistic setting. This paper presents the key elements of using a desktop virtual store to study in-store consumer behavior. Descriptions of the protocol steps to: 1) build the experimental store, 2) prepare the data management program, 3) run the virtual store experiment, and 4) organize and export data from the data management program are presented. The virtual store enables participants to navigate through the store, choose a product from alternatives, and select or return products. Moreover, consumer-related shopping behaviors (e.g., shopping time, walking speed, and number and type of products examined and bought) can also be collected. The protocol is illustrated with an example of a store layout experiment showing that shelf length and shelf orientation influence shopping- and movement-related behaviors. This demonstrates that the use of a virtual store facilitates the study of consumer responses. The virtual store can be especially helpful when examining factors that are costly or difficult to change in real life (e.g., overall store layout), products that are not presently available in the market, and routinized behaviors in familiar environments.

This paper describes the use of a desktop virtual store to create virtual shopping environments to investigate in-store consumer behavior. A description of the protocol to build and run experiments, example results from an experiment concerning store layout, and important considerations when conducting virtual store experiments are presented.

使用虚拟商店作为调查消费者店内行为的研究工具

People&#39;s responses to products and/or choice environments are crucial to understanding in-store consumer behaviors. Currently, there are various ...

Large Volume, Behaviorally-relevant Illumination for Optogenetics in Non-human Primates

This protocol describes a large-volume illuminator, which was developed for optogenetic manipulations in the non-human primate brain. The illuminator is a modified plastic optical fiber with etched tip, such that the light emitting surface area is &#62; 100x that of a conventional fiber. In addition to describing the construction of the large-volume illuminator, this protocol details the quality-control calibration used to ensure even light distribution. Further, this protocol describes techniques for inserting and removing the large volume illuminator. Both superficial and deep structures may be illuminated. This large volume illuminator does not need to be physically coupled to an electrode, and because the illuminator is made of plastic, not glass, it will simply bend in circumstances when traditional optical fibers would shatter. Because this illuminator delivers light over behaviorally-relevant tissue volumes (&#8776; 10 mm3) with no greater penetration damage than a conventional optical fiber, it facilitates behavioral studies using optogenetics in non-human primates.

A protocol to build a tissue penetrating illuminator for delivering light over large volumes with minimal diameter is presented.

非人类灵长类动物遗传学的大体积、行为相关光照

This protocol describes a large-volume illuminator, which was developed for optogenetic manipulations in the non-human primate brain. The illuminator is a ...

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Online Gamers

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive brain stimulation technique that applies a weak electric current to the scalp to modulate neuronal membrane potentials. Compared to other brain stimulation methods, tDCS is relatively safe, simple, and inexpensive to administer.
Since excessive online gaming can negatively affect mental health and daily functioning, developing treatment options for gamers is necessary. Although tDCS over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) has demonstrated promising results for various addictions, it has not been tested in gamers. This paper describes a protocol and a feasibility study for applying repeated tDCS over the DLPFC and neuroimaging to examine the underlying neural correlates in gamers.
At baseline, individuals who play online games report average weekly hours spent on games, complete questionnaires on addiction symptoms and self-control, and undergo brain 18F-&#64258;uoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET). The tDCS protocol consists of 12 sessions over the DLPFC for 4 weeks (anode F3/cathode F4, 2 mA for 30 min per session). Then, a follow-up is conducted using the same protocol as the baseline. Individuals who do not play online games receive only baseline FDG-PET scans without tDCS. Changes of clinical characteristics and asymmetry of regional cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (rCMRglu) in the DLPFC are examined in gamers. In addition, asymmetry of rCMRglu is compared between gamers and non-gamers at baseline.
In our experiment, 15 gamers received tDCS sessions and completed baseline and follow-up scans. Ten non-gamers underwent FDG-PET scans at the baseline. The tDCS reduced addiction symptoms, time spent on games, and increased self-control. Moreover, abnormal asymmetry of rCMRglu in the DLPFC at baseline was alleviated after tDCS.
The current protocol may be useful for assessing treatment efficacy of tDCS and its underlying brain changes in gamers. Further randomized sham-controlled studies are warranted. Moreover, the protocol can be applied to other neurological and psychiatric disorders.

We present a protocol and a feasibility study for applying transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and neuroimaging assessment in online gamers.

在线玩家的颅内直接电流刺激

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive brain stimulation technique that applies a weak electric current to the scalp to modulate ...

Applying an eMASS Customization Program as a Research Tool to Evaluate Consumer Benefits

As many scholars and practitioners study personalization and relationship marketing, it is important to provide personalization such as mass customization through marketing technology. The purpose of this study is to examine how to conduct consumer research using an online survey and analysis of data. This study examines consumers&#39;&#160;perceived benefits while customizing a product as well as emotional product attachment, attitudes toward a customization program, and loyalty intentions in the context of online retailing. In addition, this study investigates how consumer responses are different based on individual characteristics such as fashion innovativeness. An online survey company in South Korea recruited 290 female apparel shoppers who purchased apparel online. To enhance external validity, this study used an existing retail website with a well-established mass customization program. After completing the customization program, participants complete the online questionnaire. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and latent mean analyses (LMAs) are then performed for analyses. This study stresses the importance of testing measurement invariance for mean comparisons. Before the SEM and LMA, this study follows the hierarchy of invariance tests (configural invariance test, metric invariance test, and scalar invariance test), which are not considered by traditional approaches such as ANOVA. These statistical analyses provide applicability of the invariance test procedures and LMA to consumer behaviors. The conclusions of mean differences have integrity and validity because they are guided by a sophisticated statistical procedure to ensure measurement invariance.

Presented here is a protocol to examine consumer responses toward mass customization in the context of online retailing. The protocol details the online survey procedure and how to analyze data using structural equation modeling and group differences using latent mean analyses.

应用 eMASS 定制计划作为评估消费者权益的研究工具

As many scholars and practitioners study personalization and relationship marketing, it is important to provide personalization such as mass customization ...