On-Line Detection of Respiratory Events Applied to Behavioral Conditioning in Rabbits

The respiratory behavior of rabbits was analyzed to determine statistical features characteristic of exploratory sniffing. Statistical procedures and performance measures were incorporated into an on-line computer test to detect sniffing. The algorithm was employed in behavioral research to detect respiratory responses to conditioning stimuli in rabbits. The algorithm correctly sorted respiratory events from nonevents with an accuracy of 98 percent when compared to visual classification of polygraph tracings.