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 for capable of training mice to carry out voluntary head restraint behavior.

-Test system on animal subjects to determine optimal learning conditions.

LEARNING GOALS

-Learn to design and build mechanical devices and electronic circuits to sense animal location and control head fixation.

-Program software interfaces to control the system in an automated manner.

-Learn to test their device for reliability and repeatability and further optimize the system for mass production.

Learn more about Professor Chen on his faculty page.