WaterR: A tool for better management and monitoring of rodent fluid intake

了解大脑中的信号如何指导我们的行为对于帮助对抗许多神经系统和神经退行性疾病至关重要。这类实验通常需要动机驱动来帮助动物学习行为任务（就像训练狗一样），而液体零食是最好的动机之一。然而，很难确保动物足够口渴，而不使它们处于不必要的口渴状态。为了改进这些程序，我们开发了一种低成本的设备，可以自动分配适量的水。在这个项目中，我们将与英国各地的团体合作，对该设备进行试验性改进，以确保它可以在任何实验室中轻松使用。然后，我们将在网上发布制造该设备的计划，并举办研讨会向其他人介绍它，以确保尽可能多的实验室开始使用这种方法。

Understanding how signals in the brain guide our behaviour is vital to help combat many neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. These kinds of experiments normally require motivational drive to help the animals learn a behavioural task (much like training a dog) and liquid treats are one of the best motivators to use. However, it is difficult to ensure that the animal is just thirsty enough, without putting them in a state where they are unnecessarily thirsty. To improve these procedures, we have developed a low-cost device for automatically dispensing just the right amounts of water. In this project we will work with groups across the UK to trial improvements to the device to make sure it can easily be used in any lab. We will then publish the plans online for making the device and we will hold workshops to tell others about it, to make sure as many labs as possible start using this approach.