{
  "abstract": "Behavioral scoring is central to preclinical pain research but is typically performed manually, which is inherently low-throughput and subject to variability between observers. Automated alternatives exist, but cost and programming expertise limit adoption beyond the laboratories that build them. Here we describe PixelPaws, an open-source platform combining a near-infrared imaging enclosure built from consumer parts for under $300, multi-camera acquisition software, a bundled pose-estimation network, and eight classifiers in a graphical user interface. We evaluated the platform across standard assays of pain, itch, and opioid withdrawal. Licking, scratching, and jumping classifiers were validated against trained human observers by leave-one-session-out evaluation. In the formalin assay, classifier-scored licking followed the expected biphasic time course and was reduced dose-dependently by oxycodone, with a phase 2 potency estimate comparable to blinded manual scoring. Chloroquine roughly tripled scratching, and naloxone precipitated a burst of jumping in oxycodone-treated mice. From the same recordings we derived a set of paw contour metrics. Contour intensity fell after formalin and tracked the oxycodone dose series, and contour area shifted toward symmetry after oxycodone in nerve-injured mice. Behavioral sequencing revealed distinct changes in the transi",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "R. A. Slivicki"
    },
    {
      "name": "H. Wang"
    },
    {
      "name": "J. M. Mwirigi"
    },
    {
      "name": "K. Kucz"
    },
    {
      "name": "H. Hua"
    },
    {
      "name": "M. C. Creed"
    },
    {
      "name": "R. W. Gereau"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1dz7kdbgbn2pv.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.09.19.752787",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.19.752787v1.full",
  "id": "1dz7kdbgbn2pv",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.19.752787v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "neuroscience"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "3404|Veterinary Pharmacology and Anesthesia"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7214401037",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.19.752787v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-19",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1dz7kdbgbn2pv.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:24:29Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.09.19.752787",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.19.752787v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "biorxiv:neuroscience",
      "subfield": "neuroscience"
    }
  ],
  "title": "PixelPaws: a low-cost, open-source integrated platform for automated scoring of mouse behaviors",
  "title_text": "PixelPaws: a low-cost, open-source integrated platform for automated scoring of mouse behaviors",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:24:29Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1dz7kdbgbn2pv",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}