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Research ArticleOpen Source Tools and Methods, Novel Tools and Methods

Open-Source Joystick Manipulandum for Decision-Making, Reaching, and Motor Control Studies in Mice

Parley P. Belsey, Mark A. Nicholas and Eric A. Yttri
eNeuro 24 February 2020, 7 (2) ENEURO.0523-19.2020; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0523-19.2020
Parley P. Belsey
1Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
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Mark A. Nicholas
1Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
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Eric A. Yttri
1Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
2Carnegie Mellon Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
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Figures

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  • Figure1
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  • Figure 1.
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    Figure 1.

    Reaching setup and performance. A, Training platform hardware is adjustable and customizable to task demands. B, Mice can perform reaching tasks in behavioral boxes and with minimal space usage. Reward water is dispensed through a solenoid circuit based on task parameters and mouse performance, monitored online with an Arduino. Joystick is positioned ∼2 cm directly below mouse’s eyes. C, Amplitude (top) and outward velocity (bottom) traces from a trained mouse performing the basic center-out task. D, Data processing flow for a sample reach. Measured joystick positions sampled over time are assembled into reach trajectories offline. The described software package identifies the reach start time and various features of each reach, including peak amplitude and duration.

  • Figure 2.
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    Figure 2.

    A, Peak amplitude, B, reach duration, C, inter-reach interval (IRI) for the first 50 trials performed in each session during weeks 3, 5, and 7. Inter-trial interval, shown in light grey, is set at 3 seconds in the basic task, and is included in IRI plot shown above.

  • Figure 3.
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    Figure 3.

    Training and performance of specialized reaching tasks. A, The mouse joystick enables (1) a basic center-out task (all directions rewarded, dashed ring = reward amplitude threshold), (2) variable amplitude reaching wherein the reward amplitude can be changed within the session, (3) a reaction time task with a go-cue light, and (4) a bidirectional two-armed bandit task to assess decision-making, among other possibilities. In this case, reaches in different directions carry different reward probabilities. B, To demonstrate the ability to make discrete reaches in two directions, we demonstrate an x-y joystick position trace over a 30 min, two-armed bandit task session wherein the high probability rewarded direction changed with throughout the task. The solid black circle denotes initial training threshold for rewarded reaches at 0.35 cm, and dashed circle representing expert level threshold of 0.9 cm. C, Mean number of rewarded reaches (top) and reward threshold amplitude for each session performed by light early (green), light late (blue), and control (black) groups. D, Average of median reaction times for each session during light early and light late groups, aligned to cued light introduction session.

Tables

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    • View popup
    Table 1

    Parts list for joystick build

    Materials order form
    Base Lab Tools
    Item:Catalog number:Description:Price:
    ¼ -20 stainless-steel
    screw kit
    SKT25Screw kit including ¼– 20 cap screw, set screws, nuts, washers$49.00
    Optical breadboardSAB0412-D4" × 12" × 1/2" solid aluminum optical breadboard, black anodized$65.00
    Right angle mounting
    bracket
    ABS0022" right angle mounting bracket, narrow slotted (1)$39.00
    McMaster Carr
    Item:Catalog number:Description:Price:
    0.34" ID, 0.875" OD
    washer
    93490A030Bronze washer for 5/16" screw size,
    0.34" ID, 0.875" OD (pack of 10)
    $5.70
    1/16" ID, 1/8" OD
    tubing
    6516T11Tygon PVC clear tubing 1/16" ID, 1/8" OD, 25 ft length$5.75
    1/16" brass wire8859K511Ultra-formable 260 brass 1 foot long
    Rod, 1/16" diameter (pack of 3)
    $2.03
    Loc-Line10095K97Loc-Line coolant hose 1/4" trade size, female × male, 5 feet long$28.20
    Male Luer lock 1/8" ID
    hose barb
    51525K291Plastic quick-turn tube coupling
    Sockets, for 1/16" barbed tube ID, polypropylene (pack of 10)
    $5.24
    Thorlabs
    Item:Catalog number:Description:Price:
    Kinematic baseKB2X22" × 2" kinematic base, top and
    bottom plates, 1/4"-20 mounting
    $83.39
    Ruffy Controls
    Item:Catalog number:Description:Price:
    Miniature 2 axis hall
    effect joystick
    TS1-1-R-R-1-BKTS1, stepped cap, round limiter, rear mount, 0-5 v, black$75.00
    Items from other retailors
    Item:Catalog Number:Website:Price:
    3-Port Ported: Conventional
    Solenoid
    LHDA1233115H https://www.theleeco.com/products/electro-fluidic-systems/solenoid-valves/control-valves/lhd-series/3-port/ported/ $74.00
    30-ml syringesDescription:
    30-ml syringe Luer-Lok tip, box of 56
    https://www.vitalitymedical.com/30-ml-syringes-without-needle.html $25.84
    50-ml
    conical
    tubes
    14-432-22, case of 500 https://www.fishersci.com/shop/products/falcon-50ml-conicalcentrifuge-tubes-2/p-193321 $379.25
    Battery clip
    connector
    9-V clip on type battery snap connector lead wire plastic head, 10 pieces https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Connector-Plastic-Atomic-Market/dp/B00IDHZ5FM $6.99
    1K diodes1N5408 rectifier diode 3 A
    1000 V
    https://www.amazon.com/Parts-Express-1N5408-Rectifier-Diode/dp/B0009XSN02 $6.91
    Electrical
    breadboard
    BB400 solderless plug-in
    breadboard, 400 tie-points,
    4 power rails, 3.3 × 2.2 ×
    0.3" (84 × 55 × 9 mm)
    https://www.amazon.com/BB400-Solderless-Plug-BreadBoard-tiepoints/dp/B0040Z1ERO $5.90
    Elegoo
    board
    Elegoo EL-CB-001 UNO R3
    board ATmega328P ATMEGA16U2 with USB cable for Arduino
    https://www.amazon.com/Elegoo-EL-CB-001-ATmega328PATMEGA16U2-Arduino/dp/B01EWOE0UU $10.86
    Heat shrink
    tubing, 1/8"
    WindyNation 1/8" 20 Feet Black 3:1 Dual Wall Adhesive Glue Lined Marine Grade Heat Shrink Tube Tubing https://www.amazon.com/WindyNation-20-Feet-Black-Adhesive/dp/B07LB8Z7HZ/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=1%2F8+heat+shrink+tubing&qid=1582813388&s=industrial&sr=1-4 $16.99
    Jumper cables40 pin male to female, 40 pin male to male, 40 pin female to female breadboard jumper wire ribbon Dupont cables kit, 120 pieces https://www.amazon.com/COMeap-120pcs-Female-Breadboard-Jumper/dp/B01MU0IMFF/ref=sr_1_4?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1538699670&sr=1-4&keywords=male+male+jumper+cables $7.99
    Item:Description:Website:Price:
    LCD screenLGDe home IIC/I2C/TWI LCD 1602 16 × 2 serial interface adapter module blue backlight for Arduino UNO R3 MEGA2560 (2 pack) https://www.amazon.com/LGDehome-Interface-Adapter-Backlight-MEGA2560/dp/B0711WLVP9 $9.59
    MicroSD cardMicroSD card 32GB,AUAMOZ microSDHC class 10 UHS-I high-speed memory card for phone, tablet, and PCs, with adapter (2 pack) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DGHCFSM/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 $16.12
    MicroSD card reader
    for Arduino
    SenMod 5PCS microSD card microSDHC mini TF card adapter reader module for Arduino https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01JYNEX56/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 $8.29
    RJ11
    Telephone
    cable
    C2G/cables to Go 02970 RJ11 modular telephone cable, silver (7 feet, 2.13 m) https://www.amazon.com/C2GCables-Modular-Telephone-Silver/dp/B00006HSK6 $3.47
    60-V
    transistors
    Major brands TIP120. transistor, Darlington, NPN, 60 V, 5 A, 3-pin, 3+ Tab, TO-220,
    AmpB, rail, pack of 15
    https://www.amazon.com/Major-Brands-TIP120-Transistor-Darlington/dp/B00B888622/ref=lp_306910011_1_7?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1538700353&sr=1-7 $5.99
    • Parts, prices, and vendors are included for the joystick build. Approximate cost of one setup: $440. PDF of step by step build instructions for creating the joystick training platform are available in Extended Data 1.

Movies

  • Figures
  • Tables
  • Extended Data
  • Movie 1.

    Supplementary Joystick Performance and Readout. Video of mouse performance and online reach-position readout, including task state, threshold, time, and number of trials performed.

Extended Data

  • Figures
  • Tables
  • Movies
  • Extended Data 1

    Build manual for joystick training platform. Step by step build instructions and parts list for making the behavior rig described in Figure 1. Download Extended Data 1, PDF file.

  • Extended Data 2

    Online and offline joystick code. Online and offline code can be found at the Yttri Lab GitHub (https://github.com/YttriLab/Joystick). “Arduino Code” contains sketches to run the basic center-out reaching task, the VAO task, the reaction time task, and the directional-dependent two-armed bandit task. All tasks are capable of tracking real-time joystick position and allow for experimenter defined control of task parameters. The folder also includes code to flush fluid delivery lines for cleaning. Supplied in “Processing Code” is a sketch that can be used to visualize real-time joystick position as well as task performance and variables for the basic center-out reaching task. “MATLAB Code” contains the main offline analysis code (JSAnalysis.m) for the basic center-out reaching task, which collects data pertaining to task performance as well as reach kinematics. This folder also includes accessory analysis functions and a function (SavemicroSDData.m) to save and name data collected from the joystick. Download Extended Data 2, ZIP file.

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Open-Source Joystick Manipulandum for Decision-Making, Reaching, and Motor Control Studies in Mice
Parley P. Belsey, Mark A. Nicholas, Eric A. Yttri
eNeuro 24 February 2020, 7 (2) ENEURO.0523-19.2020; DOI: 10.1523/ENEURO.0523-19.2020

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Open-Source Joystick Manipulandum for Decision-Making, Reaching, and Motor Control Studies in Mice
Parley P. Belsey, Mark A. Nicholas, Eric A. Yttri
eNeuro 24 February 2020, 7 (2) ENEURO.0523-19.2020; DOI: 10.1523/ENEURO.0523-19.2020
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