Developing an Effective Training Protocol for Biodetector Rats: A Preliminary Study

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 10 Sayı: 3, 230 - 236, 30.05.2025

Büşra Nisa Yılmaz , Yeşim Hayta , Hüseyin Küçükmutaf , Nurgül Süzer , Nilay Seyidoğlu , Cenk Aydin

https://doi.org/10.35229/jaes.1639518

Öz

Rats have been used as biodedector animals from the diagnosis of diseases/pathological conditions to search and rescue operations or the detection of flammable/explosive/prohibited substances, just like dogs.In this study, it was aimed to create an effective training model by integrating classical and operant conditioning paradigms for biodedector rats. Ten female Sprague Dawley rats were integrated classical and operant conditioning paradigms using a modified and reshaped Skinner box.The animal was expected to ring the bell in the odor chamber, then was rewarded. Following the socialization phase, a training procedure was prepared including a clicker as a conditioned stimulus at every stage and reward food which functioned as an unconditioned stimulus and later served as a positive reinforcer. The studies were organized 5days a week, 1stage per day and 15minutes for each rats. Rats should have received restricted 60% of the food 24 hours before the training.The training procedure targeted the behavior ringing the bell with both paws. Target and non-target behaviors were counted, and percentage changes were determined. It was recorded that while the target behavior realization rate was 628.57%, the change rate of non-target behaviors was 98.33%.This study is a preliminary investigation for training rats as biodetectors, and is still ongoing.The classical and operant conditioning paradigms have been proven to be effective and easy to implement in the training of Sprague Dawley rats. Based on the results of this study, new studies are going to plan to be conducted with a new cage modified with machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Biodetector , biodedector rats , rat training , Skinner box.

Biyodedektör Sıçanlar İçin Etkili Bir Eğitim Protokolünün Geliştirilmesi: Bir Ön Çalışma

Öz

Sıçanlar, köpekler gibi hastalıkların/patolojik durumların tanısından arama kurtarma operasyonlarına veya yanıcı/patlayıcı/yasak maddelerin tespitine kadar biyodedektör hayvan olarak kullanılmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, biyodedektör sıçanlar için klasik ve operant koşullanma paradigmalarını entegre ederek etkili bir eğitim modeli oluşturmak amaçlanmıştır. On dişi Sprague Dawley sıçanı, modifiye edilmiş ve yeniden şekillendirilmiş Skinner kutusu kullanılarak klasik ve operant koşullanma eğitimine tabi tutulmuştur. Hayvanın koku odasındaki zili çalması beklenmiş ve ardından ödüllendirilmiştir. Sosyalleşme evresini takiben, her aşamada koşullu uyarıcı olarak bir tıklayıcı ve koşulsuz uyarıcı olarak işlev gören ve daha sonra olumlu pekiştirici olarak görev yapan ödül yiyeceği içeren bir eğitim prosedürü hazırlanmıştır. Çalışmalar haftada 5 gün, günde 1 aşama ve her sıçan için 15 dakika olacak şekilde düzenlenmiştir. Sıçanlara eğitimden 24 saat önce %60 gıda kısıtlaması yapılmıştır. Eğitim prosedürü, zili her iki pençeyle çalma davranışını hedefledi. Hedef ve hedef dışı davranışlar sayıldı ve yüzdelik değişimler belirlendi. Hedef davranış gerçekleşme oranı %628,57 iken hedef dışı davranışların değişim oranı %98,33 olarak kaydedildi. Bu çalışma, sıçanları biyodedektör olarak eğitmek için bir ön araştırmadır ve halen devam etmektedir. Klasik ve operant koşullanma paradigmalarının Sprague Dawley sıçanlarının eğitiminde etkili ve uygulanması kolay olduğu kanıtlanmıştır. Bu çalışmanın sonuçlarına dayanarak, makine öğrenimi ve yapay zeka ile modifiye edilmiş yeni bir kafesle yeni çalışmalar yapılması planlanmıştır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Biyodedektör , biyodedektör sıçanlar , sıçan eğitimi , Skinner kutusu

Kaynakça

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