A Flexible Fluid Delivery System for Rodent Behavior Experiments

Experimental behavioral neuroscience relies on the ability to deliver precise amounts of liquid volumes to animal subjects. Among others, it allows the progressive shaping of behavior through successive, automated, reinforcement, thus allowing training in more demanding behavioral tasks and the mani...

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Veröffentlicht in:eNeuro Jg. 12; H. 7; S. ENEURO.0024-25.2025
Hauptverfasser: Cruz, Bruno F., Carriço, Paulo, Teixeira, Luís, Freitas, Sofia, Mendes, Filipe, Bento, Dario, Silva, Artur
Format: Journal Article
Sprache:Englisch
Veröffentlicht: United States Society for Neuroscience 01.07.2025
Schlagworte:
Animals
Behavior, Animal - physiology
Behavioral Research - instrumentation
Behavioral Research - methods
Male
Open Source Tools and Methods
Rats
Reinforcement, Psychology
Software
ISSN:2373-2822, 2373-2822
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Zusammenfassung:Experimental behavioral neuroscience relies on the ability to deliver precise amounts of liquid volumes to animal subjects. Among others, it allows the progressive shaping of behavior through successive, automated, reinforcement, thus allowing training in more demanding behavioral tasks and the manipulation of variables that underlie the decision-making process. Here we introduce a stepper motor-based, fully integrated, open-source solution, that allows the reproducible delivery of small (<1μl) liquid volumes. The system can be controlled via software using the Harp protocol (e.g., from Bonsai or Python interfaces), or directly through a low-level I/O interface. Both the control software and electronics are compatible with a wide variety of motor models and mechanical designs. However, we also provide schematics, and step-by-step assembly instructions, for the mechanical design used and characterized in this manuscript. We provide benchmarks of the full integrated system using a computer vision method capable of measuring across-trial delivery of small volumes, an important metric when having behavior experiments in mind. Finally, we provide experimental validation of our system by employing it in a psychophysics rodent task, and during electrophysiological recordings.
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We thank Cindy Poo, Hugo Marques and Tiago Monteiro for comments on the manuscript, Gonçalo Lopes for help with the Bonsai interface and Joaquim Alves da Silva for assistance with calibration validation.
The authors declare no competing financial interests.
B. F. C.’s present address: Allen Institute for Neural Dynamics, Seattle, Washington.
Author Contributions: B.F.C., P.C., S.F., and A.S. designed research; B.F.C., P.C., L.T., S.F., F.M., D.B., and A.S. performed research; B.F.C. and S.F. analyzed data; B.F.C., S.F., and A.S. wrote the paper.
ISSN:2373-2822
2373-2822
DOI:10.1523/ENEURO.0024-25.2025