Low-cost, open-source, full-stack software and Arduino-based hardware for control of commercially available animal...

Area of Science:

• Behavioral neuroscience
• Neural engineering
• Open-source hardware and software development

Background:

• Controlled environments like operant chambers are essential for behavioral neuroscience.
• Commercial systems for behavioral experiments are costly and lack customizability.
• Open-source alternatives offer potential but lack comprehensive software integration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a full-stack application for controlling behavioral experiments.
• To integrate open-source software with commercial operant chamber hardware.
• To provide a flexible and scalable solution for neural interface research.

Main Methods:

• Developed a full-stack application using Angular and Flask.
• Utilized an Arduino microcontroller and a custom PCB for hardware control.
• Interfaced the system with Med Associates, Inc. operant chamber equipment.
• Conducted two-alternative forced choice (2AFC) tasks and spinal cord stimulation (SCS) experiments.

Main Results:

• The system successfully controlled operant conditioning procedures.
• Demonstrated appropriate behavioral learning and sensory detection thresholds in rodents.
• Validated the integration of open-source software with commercial hardware.

Conclusions:

• The developed open-source application effectively integrates with commercial hardware for behavioral experiments.
• This adaptable system supports the advancement of neural interface technologies.
• Provides a scalable and cost-effective solution for neuroscience research.