Patent ID: 8820265

Claim:
An apparatus for use in animal sensory discrimination, comprising: a support platform; means for supporting a plurality of samples; means for moving sample support means and support platform relative to each other; means for signaling an animal to sample a sample of the plurality of samples; and means for the animal to record a sensory response to the sampled sample, wherein said sensory response discriminates between at least two taste or olfactory stimuli; and wherein the sample support means comprises a sample plate; wherein the apparatus is programmed such that: 1. upon a signaling to the animal to sample, the animal is exposed to and may sample a sample of the plurality of samples and record a sensory response to the same; 2. upon recording a sensory response, the apparatus removes access to the sampled sample; and 3. upon a subsequent signaling to the animal to sample, the animal is exposed to and may sample a subsequent sample of the plurality of samples, and record a sensory response to the same; wherein steps 1 through 3 take place within an order of a few minutes; and wherein steps 2 and 3are repeated until all of the samples of the plurality of samples are sampled and a sensory response recorded for each.