Researchers Developed Miniature VR Goggles for Mice
Humans aren't the only ones embracing virtual reality (VR). Scientists at Cornell University have introduced a novel technology called MouseGoggles, allowing mice to engage in more authentic VR experiences in a lab setting.
A team of researchers, led by Matthew Isaacson, a postdoctoral researcher at Cornell, developed MouseGoggles. During trials with mice, the rodents displayed vivid reactions to simulated stimuli while wearing the device. This innovation could streamline animal studies involving VR for scientists.
While the concept of mouse VR might amuse, it actually serves a purpose. VR could potentially allow scientists to mimic natural habitats for mice under controlled conditions. Presently, commonly used equipment is somewhat cumbersome, with mice frequently positioned on a treadmill while surrounded by computer or projection screens. Unfortunately, these screens fail to cover a mouse's entire field of view, and it can take ages for these animals to react to the VR environment, if they do at all.
The Cornell team believes MouseGoggles significantly surpass traditional mouse VR. Instead of constructing a miniature Oculus Rift, they assembled their system utilizing miniaturized, economical components borrowed from smartwatches and similar devices. Like other VR systems, the mice are fixed to the treadmill and donned with the goggles.
Isaacson shared their progress with the Cornell Chronicle, stating that the team benefited from the DIY spirit of incorporating existing parts into a new context. He pointed out that the perfect display size for a mouse VR headset is already offered by smart watches, allowing for easy sourcing of inexpensive components.
Researchers confirmed the feasibility of their system by subjecting the mice to various stimuli, monitoring their brain activity, and observing their behavior. Upon conducting multiple tests, the researchers realized that the mice indeed appeared to perceive and react to the VR experience as anticipated.
In an instance, they examined how the mice reacted to a gradually closing dark patch, which could have signified a potential threat.
“We tried this kind of test in the traditional VR setup with large screens, but the mice remained unresponsive. However, almost every single mouse, when initially exposed to it with the goggles, exhibited a significant startle response,” Isaacson explained. “It seemed they genuinely believed they were encountering a looming predator.”
The researchers published their findings earlier this month in the journal Nature Methods.
Further advancements in authentic VR for mice have the potential to unlock numerous benefits, the researchers suggest. Precise VR experiments might help experts better understand brain activity in mice modeled to have Alzheimer's, focusing particularly on regions involved in spatial navigation and memory. Additionally, it could enhance fundamental research studying potential treatments for brain disorders.
Isaacson and his colleagues are not the first researchers to develop VR systems for mice. Yet, they claim their system is the first to feature eye and pupil tracking capability. Moreover, they are working on a lightweight, mobile VR setup that could accommodate larger rodents like rats or tree shrews. In future iterations, they hope to incorporate additional sensory enhancements such as simulated taste and smell.
The integration of eye and pupil tracking technology in MouseGoggles sets it apart from previous mouse VR systems. With future improvements, the team aims to create a lightweight, mobile VR setup for larger rodents, potentially enabling simulations of taste and smell.
The advancements in VR technology for mice could significantly impact future research, allowing for more precise experiments in Alzheimer's studies and other brain disorder research, benefiting from improved spatial navigation and memory analyses.
