An improved Morris Water Maze tracking algorithm for psychophysical studies

An algorithm to track a rat swimming in a Morris Water Maze has been developed. The system is automatically configured to any pool and relative suitable light conditions. It tracks the rat's position and head pose 10 times per second. The output data is displayed in a bitmap and also in a text file. The system was tested with an X - Y plotter using a simulated rat swimming in the maze. Known signals were provided to a model rat and compared to the position and pose information provided by the tracking algorithm. The algorithm was able to track rat velocities up to 2.32 m/s, localize rat position to 4 mm within the maze, and provide head pose information. Early prototypes of the algorithm were also used to track actual rats in a water maze.