iMRSIV VR glasses developed to “train” lab mice
By ForGeeks Researchers have long used virtual environments to study the behavior of mice in laboratory settings. However, this required the use of bulky equipment and training of the rodents themselves. Now there’s a new VR system called iMRSIV that does away with these problems.
The device, which looks like a standard headset for humans, allows you to simulate the real world for mice without having to put it on them. In initial tests, scientists found that the mice quickly adapted to virtual reality and responded to various stimuli, such as the appearance of a black sphere in the “sky,” by starting to run away.
The device is similar to a standard human headset.
“We went through the same training paradigms as in the past, but the mice with glasses learned faster. After the first session, they could already perform tasks. They knew where to run, looking for the right places to look for rewards. We think they actually need less training now because the mice can interact with the environment in a more natural way,” said Daniel Dombek, senior author of the study.
The study’s senior author Daniel Dombek said.
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It will now be much easier for researchers to study how mice respond to events and objects specific to wildlife, such as birds of prey. Future simulations of other natural phenomena and scenarios are planned, which will open up new avenues for neurobiology research.
