Airtrack- plusmaze- Bpod version

Vision

We want to do electrophysiological recordings (Neuropixel) on mice performing the plus maze behavior experiment in the airtrack system (dominiak et al 2018 / Bergmann et al. 2020). the setup should do the beahavior while we record electrophy data, and video data used to monitor eye and whiskers movement.

Changes from version without recording: recording needs better electrical isolation, markers are now above.

people involved

• Robert Sachev (supervision)
• Jens Kremkow (supervision)
• fabio Reeh (master student)

People doing similar things in the lab:

• Moritz (behavior)
• Jelte, Mik (neuropixel)
• Quon
• Eduardo (lick sensing)

Research roadmap

hardare change (until July):

- past: using arduino, flashlights from below. UV lamps from above
- new lick detection system from workshop (dual lick sensor) : used by Eduardo in another experiment.
- B-opod
- lightniing (marker detection needs more light): 
 - led for mouse feedback (same as before)
 - marker needs light : Infrared lamps (we have experience with it for other behavior).
- Fix the lick detector: Eduardo asked the workshop already

behavior (until september):

• can the animal move the thing
• train the animal to get reward.

Experiments (Feburary 2026)

2 batch of 3 animals.

design choices

• UV lamps on batteries/plugin (noise if not shielded) may be used if infrared does not work.
• we will try with the big platform, a smaller one might need to be used later
• headpost chosen (no reason given)
• use the multichain version of neuropixel

eye/whiskers tracking

• video data
• post experiment analysis
• ML analysis

dependencies

-hardware:

• Bpop
• neuropixel
• software:
  • matlab
  • spikeglx will be used for data analysis
  • video data analysis with sleap