Moculus: an immersive virtual reality system for mice incorporating stereo vision
Due to technical roadblocks, it is unclear how visual circuits represent multiple features or how behaviorally relevant representations are selected for long-term memory. Here we developed Moculus, a head-mounted virtual reality platform for mice that covers the entire visual field, and allows binocular depth perception and full visual immersion. This controllable environment, with three-dimensional (3D) corridors and 3D objects, in combination with 3D acousto-optical imaging, affords rapid visual learning and the uncovering of circuit substrates in one measurement session. Both the control and reinforcement-associated visual cue coding neuronal assemblies are transiently expanded by reinforcement feedback to near-saturation levels. This increases computational capability and allows competition among assemblies that encode behaviorally relevant information. The coding assemblies form partially orthogonal and overlapping clusters centered around hub cells with higher and earlier ramp-like responses, as well as locally increased functional connectivity.
Authors
- Balázs Rózsa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1427-7003)
- Gergely Dobos
- Balázs Tarján (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7958-7133)
- Pál Maák
- Tibor Lőrincz
- Huba Szebik (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3095-3477)
- Zoltán Szadai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6286-4686)
- Balázs Chiovini
- Gergely Szalay (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5755-343X)
- Áron Szepesi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1662-4083)
- Katalin Ócsai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9163-6658)
- Botond Roska (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9559-1450)
- Linda Judák
- Eszter Báthory
- István Takács (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2027-2698)
Institutions
- Semmelweis University (HU)
- University of Basel (CH)
- Budapest University of Technology and Economics (HU)
- Pázmány Péter Catholic University (HU)
- HUN-REN Institute of Experimental Medicine (HU)
- Bay Zoltán Foundation for Applied Research (HU)
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (CH)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Methods
- Published
- 2024-12-12
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41592-024-02554-6
- Citations
- 3
- Primary Topic
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.80
Funders
- Nemzeti Kutatási Fejlesztési és Innovációs Hivatal