mice

Mice, specifically the species *Mus musculus*, are small rodents that serve as one of the most significant model organisms in contemporary biomedical and neuroscience research. Their utility stems from their genetic tractability, which allows for precise manipulations, and their physiological systems, which share sufficient homology with humans to provide insights into complex biological processes. While rats historically represent a larger share of animal research subjects at approximately 31.4% animal models frequency, mice are the preferred choice for studies requiring advanced genetic modifications and high-throughput behavioral and electrophysiological testing.

In the neurosciences, mice are central to investigating the mechanisms of consciousness, sensory processing, and cognition. Researchers employ sophisticated surgical protocols, such as craniotomies using drills and the placement of custom implants at bregma coordinates, to target specific brain regions including the ACA, ORB, VISp, AUDp, and PTLp targeted brain regions. These invasive procedures are often paired with chronic recordings using Neuropixels probes, which allow for the monitoring of neuronal activity in freely behaving subjects acute insertions up to six probes.

Behavioral paradigms for mice are highly standardized, often involving habituation through daily handling and water restriction mice habituation. Subjects are trained on complex tasks, such as go-nogo tasks with licking responses or auditory/visual discrimination with distractors Geffen team training. Success in these tasks is typically measured by a d-prime criterion of 2 training procedure, advancing by d-prime criteria. These experiments are frequently used to test high-level theoretical frameworks, including Integrated Information Theory IIT phase consistency and Global Neuronal Workspace GNWT predictions, often in conjunction with data from non-human primates to facilitate cross-species comparisons in Cogitate extension.

Beyond neurophysiology, mice are critical in pharmacological and metabolic research. Studies have demonstrated that a Western diet can induce rapid weight gain Western diet weight gain and endotoxemia Western diet inducing endotoxemia. Pharmacological investigations have explored diverse interventions, ranging from the use of clozapine to preserve neurogenesis clozapine preserving neurogenesis to the use of chalcones for parasite eradication chalcones parasite eradication. Additionally, mice exhibit complex physiological traits such as sleep stage cycling similar to humans sleep stage cycling like humans, further cementing their role as a translational bridge.

While their primary identity in modern discourse is that of a laboratory subject, mice also exist in a broader ecological and cultural context. They are a food source for some human populations, such as the Ruler tribal community, where a portion of the population consumes them weekly Ruler consumption weekly. Nevertheless, the defining characteristic of the mouse in the scientific era is its status as a highly controlled, genetically defined, and surgically accessible platform for testing the causal underpinnings of biological and cognitive function.