3D Printable Device for Automated Operant Conditioning in the Mouse.

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Neuroscience
• Experimental Psychology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Operant conditioning (OC) is a key method in experimental psychology for studying animal learning and cognition.
• Learning curves and reaction times derived from OC paradigms serve as crucial indicators of cognitive function and disease progression in mouse models.
• Current commercial OC devices often lack customizability and are prohibitively expensive.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a fully 3D-printable operant conditioning device for freely moving mice.
• To assess the device's capability for real-time tracking and accurate measurement of learning curves and reaction times.
• To provide a cost-effective and versatile alternative to existing commercial operant conditioning systems.

Main Methods:

• A novel, fully 3D-printable operant conditioning device was designed and constructed.
• The device was utilized to train freely moving mice using a reward-based learning paradigm.
• Real-time tracking of animal position was integrated into the operant conditioning setup.
• Learning curves and reaction times were recorded and analyzed.

Main Results:

• Six mice were successfully trained using the 3D-printable operant conditioning system.
• Stereotyped and highly reproducible learning curves were observed across all trained mice.
• The system achieved over 70% accuracy after just 2 days of conditioning.
• The device demonstrated a balance between performance, cost, and versatility.

Conclusions:

• The 3D-printable operant conditioning device is a viable and effective tool for cognitive research in mice.
• This system offers a valuable, customizable, and affordable alternative to expensive commercial operant conditioning apparatus.
• The demonstrated reproducibility and accuracy support its use in evaluating therapeutic interventions in mouse models of disease.