| Categories | Object | WRA configuration | HKA configuration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1) Animal housing | Housing cage | Running-wheel mountable tailored type | Distributional Type with grid metal floor 75.5$ / animalA) |
| 2) Physical parameter counting | Locomotion detector | Running-wheel | Not required |
| 3) Transducer sensor | Locomotion detector | Wheel-counter | Not required |
| Drinking detector (Optional) | Lick-sensor | Not requiredB) | |
| Feeding detector (Optional) | Feeding-monitor | Not requiredB) | |
| 4) Data converting | A/D converter | Tailored type of A/D converter compatible with wheel-counter | Any distributionalC) |
| 1025$ / 16 animalA) | |||
| 5) Data processing | Software | Company provided | No cost (Shareware) |
Comparison of essential components between WRA system and HKA system shows that WRA system requires running-wheel as a “2) Physical parameter counting” and wheel-counter as a “3) Transducer sensor”, whereas HKA system do not require any of those. In terms of “1) Animal housing” and “4) Data converting”, HKA configuration utilizes distributional types which are readily available, whereas WRA system requires tailored types which are optimized only for WRA system. For HKA system, we provide Circa Analyzer program for “5) Data processing” as shareware, whereas WRA system software is generally provided by company with a certain price.
A)The real cost in our HKA system. Total cost for 16 channel recording was 2225.0$ (139$/animal); B)It is also possible to measure feeding and licking exclusively by separating metal sipper, food container and metal cage ceil; C)Note that it is possible to measure electrical signals for natural activities, but our current software is only compatible for specific models of A/D converters provided by specific company (Molecular Devices). This standard A/D converter (Digidata 1440A) we used here is secondhand product, and this model is not available anymore at official distributors since new versions are released.