A method for quantifying locomotion behavior in Madagascar hissing cockroaches under controlled environmental conditions

A method for quantifying locomotion behavior in Madagascar hissing cockroaches under controlled environmental conditions | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Method Article A method for quantifying locomotion behavior in Madagascar hissing cockroaches under controlled environmental conditions Eduardo Gracidas Reyes, Gerardo Ulises This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8388819/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Understanding how sensory and neural stimulation shape locomotor behavior requires experimental platforms that allow precise quantification of movement under controlled environmental conditions. In insects, variability in ambient temperature, illumination, and mechanical constraints can strongly modulate locomotor output, complicating the interpretation of stimulus-evoked responses. Here, we describe a methodological platform that enables quantification of locomotion in the Gromphadorhina portentosa while maintaining stable and programmable environmental conditions. The method combines a low-friction spherical treadmill with digitally regulated temperature and illumination control, allowing animals to walk naturally while remaining stationary. Locomotor displacement is captured using orthogonally arranged optical sensors, and environmental variables are continuously monitored and synchronized with behavioral recordings. This method provides an accessible and reproducible approach for studying sensorimotor transformations and neural control of locomotion in Gromphadorhina portentosa under different thermal and light conditions, and is readily adaptable to closed-loop stimulation paradigms and comparative neuroethological studies. Photonics/optics Animal Behavior Biophysics Insect locomotion Environmental control Behavioral quantification Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8388819","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Method Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":561980793,"identity":"84fd62e1-60e5-48fd-ae41-30a89ec5bb4b","order_by":0,"name":"Eduardo Gracidas Reyes","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0002-9145-2792","institution":"UDLAP","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Eduardo","middleName":"Gracidas","lastName":"Reyes","suffix":""},{"id":561980794,"identity":"fa2619b0-b64c-4f07-bf16-d9c0ced10a14","order_by":1,"name":"Gerardo Ulises","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Díaz Arango","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Gerardo","middleName":"","lastName":"Ulises","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-12-17 19:45:38","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":{"humanSubjects":false,"vertebrateSubjects":false,"conflictsOfInterestStatement":false,"humanSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false,"humanSubjectConsent":false,"humanSubjectClinicalTrial":false,"humanSubjectCaseReport":false,"vertebrateSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false},"doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8388819/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8388819/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":99309212,"identity":"0ccfd694-59d5-4bfa-9842-9f8c57d220c7","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-31 16:09:53","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":9909242,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"articulohardware1.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8388819/v1_covered_a70b2967-054a-4797-ad4f-2ca23a6dd014.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"The authors declare no competing interests.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003eA method for quantifying locomotion behavior in Madagascar hissing cockroaches under controlled environmental conditions\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Insect locomotion, Environmental control, Behavioral quantification","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8388819/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8388819/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eUnderstanding how sensory and neural stimulation shape locomotor behavior requires experimental platforms that allow precise quantification of movement under controlled environmental conditions. 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