A Raspberry Pi-based virtual reality system for small animals

Date:
July 14, 2020
Source:
PLOS
Summary:
The Raspberry Pi Virtual Reality system (PiVR) is a versatile tool
for presenting virtual reality environments to small, freely moving
animals (such as flies and fish larvae). The use of PiVR, together
with techniques like optogenetics, will facilitate the mapping
and characterization of neural circuits involved in behavior.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
The Raspberry Pi Virtual Reality system (PiVR) is a versatile tool for presenting virtual reality environments to small, freely moving animals
(such as flies and fish larvae), according to a study published July 14,
2020 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology by David Tadres and Matthieu
Louis of the University of California, Santa Barbara. The use of PiVR,
together with techniques like optogenetics, will facilitate the mapping
and characterization of neural circuits involved in behavior.


==========================================================================
PiVR consists of a behavioral arena, a camera, a Raspberry Pi
microcomputer, an LED controller, and a touchscreen. This system
can implement a feedback loop between real-time behavioral tracking
and delivery of a stimulus. PiVR is a versatile, customizable system
that costs less than $500, takes less than six hours to build (using
a 3D printer), and was designed to be accessible to a wide range of neuroscience researchers.

In the new study, Tadres and Louis used their PiVR system to present
virtual realities to small, freely moving animals during optogenetic experiments.

Optogenetics is a technique that enables researchers to use light to
control the activity of neurons in living animals, allowing them to
examine causal relationships between the activity of genetically-labeled neurons and specific behaviors.

As a proof-of-concept, Tadres and Louis used PiVR to study sensory
navigation in response to gradients of chemicals and light in a range
of animals. They showed how fruit fly larvae change their movements in
response to real and virtual odor gradients. They then demonstrated
how adult flies adapt their speed of movement to avoid locations
associated with bitter tastes evoked by optogenetic activation of their bitter-sensing neurons. In addition, they showed that zebrafish larvae
modify their turning maneuvers in response to changes in the intensity
of light mimicking spatial gradients. According to the authors, PiVR
represents a low-barrier technology that should empower many labs to characterize animal behavior and study the functions of neural circuits.

"More than ever," the authors note, "neuroscience is technology-driven. In recent years, we have witnessed a boom in the use of closed-loop tracking
and optogenetics to create virtual sensory realities. Integrating new interdisciplinary methodology in the lab can be daunting. With PiVR,
our goal has been to make virtual reality paradigms accessible to
everyone, from professional scientists to high-school students. PiVR
should help democratize cutting-edge technology to study behavior and
brain functions."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by PLOS. Note: Content may be edited
for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. David Tadres, Matthieu Louis. PiVR: An affordable and versatile
closed-
loop platform to study unrestrained sensorimotor behavior. PLOS
Biology, 2020; 18 (7): e3000712 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000712 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/07/200714143044.htm

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