Protocol for awake task free fMRI using freely behaving head fixed mice.

Motivation: To increase the translatability of preclinical imaging data, awake protocols have to be developed. Goal(s): Here we outline a protocol for awake task free fMRI using freely behaving head fixed mice. Approach: After headplate surgery and habituation to a holder containing a treadmill, mice are scanned up to 6 times. Results: The corticosterone and framewise displacement show that habituation seems to continue during scanning, suggesting that the habituation protocol needs to be lengthened. However, after dual regression analysis, activity within task free networks can be seen in the data, meaning that this protocol takes steps in the improvement of translatability of data. Impact: To increase the translatability of functional MRI data, development of awake protocols is necessary. This allows for removal of the confound of anesthesia as well as opening up the option for behavioral paradigms during scanning.