Resources
Head-fixed mouse reaching rig and analysis pipeline
Resources for “A paradigm for skilled forelimb reaching by head-restrained mice”
This page provides resources associated with our bioRxiv preprint. The paper describes a pipeline for head-restrained/head-fixed pellet reaching in mice, including a customizable pellet-presentation rig, a behavioral training protocol, and video-based analysis code for detecting reaches and classifying outcomes. This page will serve as the living resource page for updated code, design files, build notes, and related materials.
Publication
Annabel Chang, Adithya Madduri, Janet Berrios Wallace, Junzheng Wang, and Kimberly Reinhold. A paradigm for skilled forelimb reaching by head-restrained mice. bioRxiv. Submitted.
Please cite the preprint if you use the rig design, training protocol, code, or related materials.
The materials are organized into three parts:
Behavior rig. Design files and build notes for the pellet loader, pellet positioner, mouse house, and related assembly components, with Arduino control code.
Laser-cut .ai files.
3D-print .stp files.
Arduino control code linked below.
Analysis pipeline. Code for video-based detection of reaches, pellet availability, chewing, reach outcomes, and related behavioral events.
Current pipeline is in Matlab.
Full Python rewrite in progress! Stay tuned.
Project uses two repositories: reach-behavior-analysis and reachBehavior. Note: reach-behavior-analysis must be placed higher in the directory structure.
Training protocol. Practical notes for shaping head-fixed mice to perform skilled pellet reaching.
See bioRxiv manuscript for full protocol.