With these tops in place, additional sound dampening is available, diminishing the impact of the fans. Testing is done in the dark. Room light normal if possible. Computer control should be set up so that each squad's information is set up immediately following the completion of the prior squad. This permits direct movement of the succeeding squad from the colony room into the test room and into the monitors without delay for computer setup.
Lighting is normal room lighting.
Mice are tailmarked before testing begins. Another experimenter can tailmark while one starts the activity testing. Black mice will be tailmarked with a red sharpie pen while all others are tailmarked with a black sharpie pen. Monitors are cleaned with dilute isopropyl alcohol wipes at the end of each squad's test. Doing this at the completion of each squad give some time for odor to dissipate prior the acquisition and test initiation for the next squad.