Development of a Low-Cost Software to Obtain Quantitative Parameters in the Open Field Test for Application in Neuroscience Research

This paper describes the development of a low-cost software, called Rat Steps, which allows the obtention of quantitative data (total distance traveled and average speed) as well as the graphic trajectory performed by an animal in the open field test. This behavioral test is widely used in neuroscience in order to visualize locomotor impairment following acute brain injury, including stroke, as well as the effect of experimental therapies for these neural disorders. The main tools used for the software development were digital image processing techniques, Python programming, OpenCV library and machine learning algorithms, including the Mean Shift method. The software was successfully developed with effective obtention of quantitative parameters from the Open Field Test, which allows several applications in neuroscience research.