Optimal frame rates for Fear Conditioning

FreezeFrame can collect images at up to 30 frames per second (aggregate). From extensive experimentation, however, we have found that the optimal frame rate for fear conditioning experiments is between 3 and 4 per second (300 ms temporal resolution).

Higher frame rates give higher temporal resolution, but cause a loss of sensitivity. That is, the shorter the time between frames, the less the animal will have moved between one frame and the next. So at high frame rates, subtle or slow movements made by the animal can be missed.

Lower frame rates allow for more movement to occur between successive frames and therefore increase the sensitivity of the system to subtle movements. But this increase in sensitivity comes at a cost of reduces temporal resolution.

3-4 frames per second gives an optimal trade-off between these two factors.