An Open Source Syringe Pump Controller for Fluid Delivery of Multiple Volumes

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Neuroscience
• Neurophysiology
• Laboratory Equipment

Background:

• Syringe pumps are essential for fluid delivery in behavioral neuroscience research, often used for reward delivery to rodents and primates.
• Existing commercial syringe pumps lack customizability for multiple fluid volumes and can interfere with neurophysiological recordings due to electrical noise.
• High cost of commercial pumps limits their accessibility for many research laboratories.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a customizable, cost-effective, and open-source syringe pump controller.
• To enable precise delivery of multiple fluid reward volumes within a single experimental epoch.
• To facilitate paired neurophysiological recordings by minimizing electrical noise.

Main Methods:

• Designed and built an open-source syringe pump controller using readily available components.
• Programmed the controller to adjust motor speed and acceleration for variable fluid delivery.
• Integrated the controller into rodent behavioral experiments, including those with paired electrophysiological recordings.

Main Results:

• The developed syringe pump controller successfully delivered three distinct volumes of liquid sucrose reward.
• The system demonstrated cost-effectiveness compared to commercial alternatives.
• The controller was successfully implemented in rodent behavioral experiments with paired neurophysiological recordings in the rat frontal cortex.

Conclusions:

• The open-source syringe pump controller offers a customizable and affordable solution for fluid delivery in neuroscience.
• This technology overcomes limitations of commercial pumps, particularly in experiments requiring precise volume control and simultaneous neurophysiological recordings.
• The controller facilitates novel research into reward signaling by allowing precise manipulation of fluid reward magnitude and temporal delivery.