Cup holder for studying head-fixed mice

This technology describes a cup design for head-fixed experiments that places mice in an upright position for improved forelimb posture during complex motor activities.

Unmet Need: Improved device for training mice in head-fixed behavior

Current protocols for training mice in head-fixed behavior place them inside horizontal tubes in a quadruped position, bearing weight on both fore and hindlimbs. Under this restrictive posture, mouse forelimb range of motion is impeded, and fine motor control is restricted. Therefore, existing head-fixed devices constrain the complex motor control movements for which they are designed to study and limit the analysis of motor learning and control.

The Technology: Cup holder for studying motor learning behavior in head-fixed mice

This technology alters the posture of head-fixed mice and reduces the weight on forelimbs for improved control and larger degree of forelimb motion. The cup design allows the animal to sit in a perched position and perform maximal forelimb movements, thus enabling more sophisticated characterization of fine motor control during head-fixed studies and improved interrogation of behavioral paradigms. The technology optimizes head-fixed mouse posture for studying the neural activity underlying complex motor behaviors.

This technology has been validated in skilled action learning experiments in head-fixed mice.

Applications:

  • Research tool for behavioral rodent studies
  • Research tool for in vivo monitoring of rodent neural activity
  • Research tool for stimulus control and training in rodents
  • Modification for microscopes, MRI, CT, and electrophysiology instruments for head-fixed rodent studies
  • Device for veterinary medicine

Advantages:

  • Improves rodent posture to reduce bearing weight on forelimbs
  • Enables greater range of motion in rodent forelimbs for complex behavior models
  • Compatible with existing instrumentation

Lead Inventor:

Helio F.M. Rodrigues

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