Behavioral Task Device

Description

The Behavioral Task Device is a fully integrated visual stimulation and reward system. It is based on the widely used PsychoPy package and will display visual patterns to a small head fixed animal. The protocol can be programmed using the intuitive PsychoPy user interface.

Each device can be customized to meet the researcher’s specific requirements. Please click the “Build your own setup” button below to create your own behavioral setup. Please note the displayed price is for the minimalistic configuration which includes only the head fixation system.

Behavioral testing is critical in biomedical science as it provides insights into the cognitive, emotional, and motor functions of animals, enabling researchers to study neurological disorders, drug efficacy, and brain function. These tests help model human conditions, leading to a deeper understanding of disease mechanisms and the development of effective treatments. The Behavioral Task Device is fully customizable, allowing users to independently add or modify components like sensors and actuators. This modular design ensures flexibility, letting researchers tailor the device to fit various experimental needs. 

Content (all Optional):

• Two 24″ control/stimulation monitors
• One computer with keyboard and mouse
• Add-on positioners to precisely position water sprouts and air puff outputs.
• Water dispenser
• Decision wheel
• One audio set to present stereo stimuli.
• Rodent driven treadmill OR acrylic tube to maintain the animal, with head fixation system.
• One breadboard allowing multiple add-ons.
• 8 digital inputs-outputs to monitor other sensors, to act as slave, to trigger other systems, or to control sensorial feedback.

Also, the device features a compact footprint, which makes it ideal for high-throughput experiments as well as seamless serialization. Because the device operates fully autonomously, users can serialize an unlimited number of devices. Additionally, users can store acquired data locally on a computer or easily integrate it with widely used cloud storage services, providing flexibility and efficiency in data management.

Moreover, the Behavioral Task Device is compatible with many other devices. Below is a non-exhaustive list of the add-ons available. USB webcams can be used to record the animal movement or track the pupil position. LabeoTech’s Air Puff Whisker Stimulator can be used for aversive stimulus and the Behavioral Lever to study fine motor tasks.

Finally, the experiment setup requires minimal programming thanks to PsychoPy.org. Custom components have been pre-programmed in PsychoPy, which allows users to simply drag and drop components and set their properties without writing a single line of code! The experiment workflow can be adjusted with ease using intuitive schematic as shown below. We can also customize or program new experiments for your specific needs.