An open-source platform for head-fixed operant and consummatory behavior

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Behavioral Science
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Head-fixed rodent models offer high experimental control for studying behavior and neural activity.
• Investigating the neural basis of motivated behaviors requires flexible and precise experimental platforms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce OHRBETS (Open-Source Head-fixed Rodent Behavioral Experimental Training System), a low-cost, open-source platform.
• To demonstrate OHRBETS' capability in replicating key behavioral phenotypes and enabling novel experimental paradigms.

Main Methods:

• OHRBETS platform: integrated hardware and software for behavioral control and data acquisition.
• Behavioral tasks: operant conditioning, optogenetic intracranial self-stimulation, real-time place preference, and multi-spout brief-access consumption.
• Neural recordings: mesolimbic dopamine signals measured during consumption tasks.

Main Results:

• Head-fixed mice using OHRBETS exhibited operant conditioning and consummatory behaviors comparable to freely moving conditions.
• The system successfully supported optogenetic self-stimulation and real-time place preference assays.
• Licking behavior in a multi-spout task correlated with solution concentration and was modulated by circadian/homeostatic factors.
• Mesolimbic dopamine signals strongly correlated with relative solution value and consumption magnitude.

Conclusions:

• OHRBETS provides a versatile, cost-effective, and open-source solution for head-fixed rodent behavioral neuroscience.
• The platform facilitates replicable studies of motivated behaviors and allows integration with in vivo neural recording/perturbation techniques.
• OHRBETS empowers researchers to investigate the neural underpinnings of complex behaviors with enhanced precision and accessibility.