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Research ArticleResearch Article: Methods/New Tools, Novel Tools and Methods

A Comprehensive, Affordable, Open-Source Hardware-Software Solution for Flexible Implementation of Complex Behaviors in Head-Fixed Mice

Ali Ozgur, Soo Bin Park, Abigail Yap Flores, Mikko Oijala and Gyorgy Lur
eNeuro 7 June 2023, 10 (6) ENEURO.0018-23.2023; https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0018-23.2023
Ali Ozgur
University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697
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Soo Bin Park
University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697
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Abigail Yap Flores
University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697
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Mikko Oijala
University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697
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Gyorgy Lur
University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697
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Abstract

Experiments that take advantage of head-fixed behavioral tasks have been a staple of systems neuroscience research for half a century. More recently, rodents came to the forefront of these efforts, primarily because of the rich experimental possibilities afforded by modern genetic tools. There is, however, a considerable barrier to entering this field, requiring expertise in engineering, hardware and software development, and significant time and financial commitment. Here, we present a comprehensive, open-source hardware and software solution to implement a head-fixed environment for rodent behaviors (HERBs). Our solution provides access to three frequently used experimental frameworks (two-alternative forced choice, Go-NoGo, or passive sensory stimulus presentation) in a single package. The required hardware can be built at a relatively low cost compared with commercially available solutions, from off-the-shelf components. Our graphical user interface-based software provides great experimental flexibility and requires no programming experience for either installation or use. Furthermore, an HERBs takes advantage of motorized components that allow the precise, temporal separation of behavioral phases (stimulus presentation, delays, response window and reward). Overall, we present a solution that will allow laboratories to join the growing community of systems neuroscience research at a substantially lower cost of entry.

  • Go-NoGo
  • hardware-software
  • head-fixed behavior
  • open-source
  • sensory perception
  • two-alternative forced choice

Footnotes

  • The authors declare no competing financial interests.

  • These studies were funded by Whitehall Foundation Grant 2018-12-09 (to G.L.), National Institute of Mental Health Grant R01-MH-123686 (to G.L.), and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Grant R01-NS-127785 (to G.L.).

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium provided that the original work is properly attributed.

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eneuro: 10 (6)
eNeuro
Vol. 10, Issue 6
June 2023
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A Comprehensive, Affordable, Open-Source Hardware-Software Solution for Flexible Implementation of Complex Behaviors in Head-Fixed Mice
Ali Ozgur, Soo Bin Park, Abigail Yap Flores, Mikko Oijala, Gyorgy Lur
eNeuro 7 June 2023, 10 (6) ENEURO.0018-23.2023; DOI: 10.1523/ENEURO.0018-23.2023

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A Comprehensive, Affordable, Open-Source Hardware-Software Solution for Flexible Implementation of Complex Behaviors in Head-Fixed Mice
Ali Ozgur, Soo Bin Park, Abigail Yap Flores, Mikko Oijala, Gyorgy Lur
eNeuro 7 June 2023, 10 (6) ENEURO.0018-23.2023; DOI: 10.1523/ENEURO.0018-23.2023
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Keywords

  • Go-NoGo
  • hardware-software
  • head-fixed behavior
  • open-source
  • sensory perception
  • two-alternative forced choice

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