Food Deprivation Timing

Background

Food deprivation is an integral part of operant conditioning procedures which utilize food as a reinforcer. While deprivation procedures are relatively well outlined for other animals, research regarding what methods are best suited for mice is limited. By exploring food deprivation timing, behavioral research may be able to better utilize mice as subjects. It could also prove to be beneficial for interdisciplinary work.

Research Goal

This research explored the impacts of timing of 24-hour food deprivation on weight and responding in Balb/c mice.

Method

Phase 1: Mice were allowed continous access to food. Ad lib weights were established.
Phase 2: Mice underwent alternating 24 hour food deprivation periods.
Phase 3: Mice were given free access to food to re-establish ad lib weights.
Phase 4: Mice underwent alternating 24 hour food deprivation periods.

Phase	Condition	Deprivation Time Group 1	Deprivation Time Group 2
Establish Ad Lib	Mice were allowed continuous access to food	N/A	N/A
Deprive time 1	Mice underwent alternating 24 hour food deprivation periods	7AM	3PM
Re-establish Ad Lib	Mice were allowed continuous access to food	N/A	N/A
Deprive time 2	Mice underwent alternating 24 hour food deprivation periods	7AM	7PM

Results

Despite deprivation periods being of identical length (24 hours), mice lost a greater proportion of their ad libitum weights when they were deprived of food at 3:00pm and 7:00pm as compared to when deprivation occurred at 7:00am.

The results suggest that mice lost a greater proportion of their ad libitum weights during deprivations that took place closer to, or during the dark cycle (3:00 pm and 7:00 pm) in comparison to when deprivation occurred during the light cycle, at 7:00 am.

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