Excellence Strategy "Science of Intelligence": Mouse Lock Box 2.0

Funded by: German Research Foundation (DFG)

Funding period: 2023 - 2026

Project website:

External Link:https://www.scienceofintelligence.de/

External Link:https://www.scienceofintelligence.de/research-projects/project_46/

The welfare of the animal must be protected, which is why behaviorally and species appropriate housing is necessary. In order to provide the animal with an appropriate environment, it is important to provide it with different stimuli and opportunities for activity, which is referred to as “enrichment.”

The aim of the project is to understand the individual intelligence of mice and to develop new opportunities for them to engage in activities. To this end, mice are given problem-solving tasks using lock boxes. Lock boxes are mechanical puzzles filled with a food reward that engage the mouse on a voluntary basis. In this case, the lockbox consists of a square box with 99 tiles. To get to the food reward, the mouse must move the tiles on the surface of the lockbox. The tiles can be moved in different directions, resulting in numerous possible solutions. By varying the task design with the lockbox, different aspects of intelligent behavior can be investigated.

The developed boxes are suitable as cognitive enrichment in animal care and counteract boredom (refinement).