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SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article

Front. Behav. Neurosci.

Sec. Individual and Social Behaviors

Volume 19 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2025.1663089

Does advancement in marker-less pose-estimation mean more quality research? A systematic review

Provisionally accepted
Shivam  BholaShivam Bhola1Hyun  Bin KimHyun Bin Kim2Hyeon  Su KimHyeon Su Kim2Bon  Sang GuBon Sang Gu2Jun-Il  YooJun-Il Yoo1*
  • 1Inha University Hospital Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Incheon, Republic of Korea
  • 2Department of Biomedical Research Institute, Inha University, Michuhol-gu, Republic of Korea

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

Recent breakthroughs in marker-less pose-estimation have driven a significant transformation in computer-vision approaches. Despite the emergence of state-of-the-art keypoint-detection algorithms, the extent to which these tools are employed and the nature of their application in scientific research has yet to be systematically documented. We systematically reviewed the literature to assess how pose-estimation techniques are currently applied in rodent (rat and mouse) models. Our analysis categorized each study by its primary focus: tool-development, method-focused, and study-focused studies. We mapped emerging trends alongside persistent gaps. We conducted a comprehensive search of Crossref, OpenAlex PubMed, and Scopus for articles published on rodent pose-estimation from 2016 through 2025, retrieving 16,412 entries. Utilizing an AI-assisted screening tool, we subsequently reviewed the top ~1,000 titles and abstracts. 67 papers met our criteria: 30 tool-focused reports, 28 method-focused studies, and 9 study-focused papers. Publication frequency trend has accelerated in recent years, with more than half of these studies published after 2021. Through a detailed review of the selected studies, we charted emerging trends and key patterns, from the emergence of new keypoint-detection methods to their integration into behavioral experiments and adoption in various disease contexts. Despite significant progress in marker-less pose-estimation technologies, their widespread application remains limited. Many laboratories still rely on traditional behavioural assays, under-using advanced tools. Establishing standardized protocols is the key step to bridge this gap, which will ultimately realize the full potential of marker-less pose-estimation and even greater insight into preclinical behavioural science.

Keywords: rodent model, Behavior classification, keypoint detection, marker-less pose estimation, Systematic review

Received: 10 Jul 2025; Accepted: 05 Aug 2025.

Copyright: © 2025 Bhola, Kim, Kim, Gu and Yoo. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence: Jun-Il Yoo, Inha University Hospital Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Incheon, Republic of Korea

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.