An automated rat single pellet reaching system with high-speed video capture.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Single pellet reaching is an established task for studying fine motor control in which rats reach for, grasp, and eat food pellets in a stereotyped sequence. Most incarnations of this task require constant attention, limiting the number of animals that can be tested and the number of trials per session. Automated versions allow more interventions in more animals, but must be robust and reproducible.

New method

Our system automatically delivers single reward pellets for rats to grasp with their forepaw. Reaches are detected using real-time computer vision, which triggers video acquisition from multiple angles using mirrors. This allows us to record high-speed (>300 frames per second) video, and trigger interventions (e.g., optogenetics) with high temporal precision

SUBMITTER: Ellens DJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5003677 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature