Jerry Chen

Fully Automated Home-Cage Training System for Self-Head-Fixating Mice

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Understanding brain function requires linking neural circuits to behavior. A range of tools for dissecting neural circuit function are optimally suited for head-fixed mice. Human-guided training of head-fixed behavior is a laborious process and restricts capacity to obtain comprehensive measurements across many individual subjects. We will develop a fully automated home cage system designed to train voluntary head restrained mice on complex cognitive tasks.

LABORATORY MENTOR
David Lee 

RESEARCH GOALS
• Design, build, and test a home cage system capable of training mice to carry out voluntary head restraint behavior.
• The system will be tested on animal subjects to determine optimal learning conditions.

LEARNING GOALS
• Design and build mechanical devices and electronic circuits to sense animal location and control head fixation as well as program software interfaces to control the system in an automated manner.
• Test their device for reliability and repeatability and further optimize the system for mass production.

TIMELINE
June 7 – August 13, 2021

Learn more about Jerry Chen on his faculty page.