Heatmap

Description :

This report displays as thumbnails a visual representation of the time spent by animals in different parts of the arena.

heat maps can be plotted using the animal's center or head position.

Is it possible to display, either one heat map for each test, or heat maps of averaged data for each group of tests.

Calculation method :

A heatmap uses a range of colors to provide a visual representation of the time the animal spends in different parts of the arena during a test, with blue representing the shortest time and red the longest time.

The algorithm uses the position of the center of the animal in each image, the time between each detected position and the size of the animal to perform the calculation.

Settings :

Type :

The type of heat map :

•The position of the animal's center.

•The average of the animal's center position for each test group.

•The position of the animal's head.

•The average of the animal's head position for each test group.

Display the number of tests :

In the case of average heat maps for the groups, display or hide the number of tests in the group.

Unity :

Maximum time display format: hours minutes seconds ( example: ~ 12 min 5 s ) or seconds ( example: ~ 725 s ).

Max value:

In order to be able to compare several tests, the longest time (corresponding to the color red) must be the same for all the tests.

This option allows you to choose how the longest time will be calculated :

When the report display an heat map for each test :

Maximum time of all tests: the maximum time spent in any part of the arena for all animals of all tests in the report.
Advantage: this is the "true" maximum time. Disadvantage: if an animal remains motionless for a long time, the other "heat maps" will only use a reduced range of the color range.

Average of the maximum time of all tests.
Advantage: allows a wider range of color gamut to be used for tests where animals are always in motion . Disadvantage: Masks differences between animals that have remained motionless for a long time in certain areas.

Fixed value: chosen time value that does not depend on the tests included in the report.
Advantages: makes it possible to compare the results between 2 r contributions, including if the reports depend on different protocols or different experiments.

When the report display an average heat map for each group of tests :

Maximum time of all groups: the maximum of the averages.

Average of the maximum time of all groups.

Fixed value.

Analysis over time:

The heat map can be calculated over the entire analysis period or only over part of the analysis period depending on the options chosen in the " Period " tab.

Thumbnail display description:

color gradient :

The color gradient used to generate the map, as well as the minimum and maximum values of the time spent (in seconds) corresponding to the extreme colors of the gradient. As indicated by the symbol ~, the calculated maximum value is an approximate value because it is calculated from the average value of a number of points around the animal's center position and not on the animal's position. a single point.

Maximum value of time spent in a part of the arena for the test :

The maximum value calculated for the test ( or the group ) as well as the position of the maximum on the color gradient (if this value is lower than the maximum value of the report). This value can be lower or higher than the maximum value of the report.

Note: As indicated by the symbol ~, the calculated maximum value is an approximate value because it is calculated from the average value of a number of points around the position of the animal's center and not on the position from a single point.

	heat map
	The heat map of the test or group.

	Number of tests in the group
	The number of tests in the group ( only for average heat maps for groups ).

	Name
	The name of the test or group.

Grouping:

Tests can be grouped by stage, trial, user fields or by animals ( see "Group / Sort" ).

Export of results:

The report can be exported in different formats to use the results in other software.

The complete report can be saved as a file in html format to be opened in any internet browser, or in rtf format to be opened by a text editor (Microsoft Word, Microsoft Wordpad, Libre Office writer, Open Office Writer, ...). To do this, simply click on the command ribbon button or click on the right mouse button in the report to bring up the contextual menu and select the "Save to file" menu.

It is also possible to export each thumbnail independently, either by copying it to the clipboard or by saving it as an image file. To do this, simply position the cursor on a thumbnail, click on the right mouse button to bring up the contextual menu and select the corresponding menu "Copy the plot" or "Save the plot".