behaviorMate is an integrated system composed of several sub-components that communicate over a local area network (LAN) using JSON-formatted packets. The system includes a Java-based user interface (UI) that serves as the central hub for running experiments, as well as Arduino-based hardware components for controlling peripheral devices and tracking the animal's position.
The key features of behaviorMate include:
Modularity and flexibility: The system is designed to be easily reconfigured to support a wide range of behavioral paradigms, including goal-oriented learning, random foraging, and context switching. New components can be added as needed.
Open-source and cost-effective: behaviorMate uses open-source software and custom-designed printed circuit boards, making it a more affordable alternative to proprietary systems.
Precise timing and control: The system provides precise control over the timing of stimulus delivery and the collection of behavioral responses, which is crucial for correlating neuronal activity with behavior.
Support for head-fixed navigation tasks: behaviorMate has been validated for use in both physical treadmill and virtual reality (VR) setups, allowing researchers to study spatial navigation in head-fixed animals.
The authors demonstrate the utility and reliability of behaviorMate through a range of use cases from published studies and benchmark tests. They also present experimental validation of the system's performance in hippocampal place field studies, showing that place cells exhibit similar properties in both treadmill and VR environments.
Overall, behaviorMate represents a flexible and cost-effective solution for researchers conducting behavioral experiments, particularly those involving head-fixed navigation tasks and the need to correlate neuronal activity with behavior.
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by Bowler,J. C.... at www.biorxiv.org 12-06-2023
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.12.04.569989v4Deeper Inquiries