École Nationale Supérieure de
Techniques Avancées

Résumé

Neuroscience experiments often require integrating various technologies to accurately record and control behavioral and neural data. However, combining different software can be costly and impractical due to incompatibility. This study aims at centralizing in one software data acquisition, processing, and synchronicity with millisecond accuracy in different neuroscience experimental setups. Furthermore, once video acquisition and laser pulse control were implemented, the goal is to develop two types of closed-loop systems: one for video tracking to automate camera movement to follow mouse locomotion, and another to automate state-dependent optogenetic stimulation based on the animal’s behavior and environment conditions. To achieve this goal, we evaluated Bonsai, an open-source visual programming language recently designed for neuroscience applications, but never used by the host laboratory. We applied it in typical experiments done by the lab, which consisted into filming mouse locomotion while optogenetic stimulations interfered in neuronal activity. Major challenges included operating cameras, delivering and controlling light-stimulations, synchronizing the acquired data, developing image processing to track an object, manipulating external devices and modulating the operation of a stepper motor to automate camera movement.