Open-Source Platform for Adjustable Training Regimes in Freely Moving and Head-Fixed Mice

Molecular tools available for rodent research enable detailed interrogation of the neural cell types and circuits that give rise to perception and decision-making during complex behaviors. To take full advantage of these molecular tools and successfully define causal relationships between neural function and overt actions during learning, there is a need for low-cost behavioral platforms with inherent flexibility in the implementation of task details. We present a behavioral platform capable of executing both head-fixed and freely moving task designs. The platform incorporates a user-interactive GUI that allows parameters to be adjusted online, during an acquisition session. Task metrics and performance indicators are acquired and organized into a standardized output, enabling single users to quickly master data analysis across a variety of task designs. To demonstrate the flexibility of the platform, mice of either sex were trained in two discrimination tasks: a head-fixed two-choice task as well as a freely moving operant conditioning task. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the platform can be used to show that mice harboring a mutation associated with autism spectrum disorder are able to perform a basic visual discrimination task in freely moving conditions. The presented work demonstrates the integration of multiple external devices to record task-related variables in a synchronized manner. As a result, the platform provides a valuable tool for affordable and reproducible investigation of behavioral decision-making as well as the neural basis underlying cognitive processes in health and disease.