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The Knob Supination Task: A Semi-automated Method for Assessing Forelimb Function in Rats
Published on: September 28, 2017
A novel turning behavior control method for rat-robot through the stimulation of ventral posteromedial thalamic
Kedi Xu1, Jiacheng Zhang2, Hong Zhou2
1Qiushi Academy for Advanced Studies (QAAS), Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Education Ministry, Zhejiang University, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardio-Cerebral Vascular Detection Technology and Medicinal Effectiveness Appraisal, China.
Abstract:
The concept of a rat-robot was initially introduced in 2002, bringing to the field, a novel area of research using modern research into neuroscience and robotics. This paper brings to the table, a study into the method best used for navigation systems in a rat-robot. Current research is epitomized by the use of reward-based spatial navigation, combining the concept of an induced reward sensation as well as a 'virtual touch' sensation to control the movement of the rat-robot. However, such methods are plagued by limitations affecting the success rate as well as preparation procedures which may have varying effects on different rats, even under similar conditions. Hence, this paper studies the stimulation of two different portions of the brain to induce a turning motion within the rat, namely the Ventral Posteromedial (VPM) thalamic nucleus as well as the Barrel-Field (BF) cortex and demonstrates the preferential usage of VPM as the choice use of navigational control in a rat-robot.
