Optoelectronic monitoring of individual whisker movements in rats.
We describe two systems for the real-time recording and display of individual vibrissa movements in head-fixed rats. Both systems utilize high-speed, linear image sensors, each composed of an array of light sensitive elements (CCDs). Uniform illumination of the array generates a constant baseline voltage in each element. The shadow produced by the movement of a whisker interposed between the light source and the sensors produces a voltage shift in a subset of elements. The successive position of the shift is linearly related to the momentary whisker position. Associated software/hardware scans the array at regular intervals to identify the successive positions of voltages above a preset threshold and outputs the data to a microprocessor for computation of the whisker movement trajectory. In both systems, movements of a single whisker may be monitored 'on-line' with high spatial and temporal resolution; in one case with, in the other without the presence of neighboring whiskers. Optoelectronic monitoring facilitates rapid and efficient (computer-assisted) acquisition and analysis of data on rodent whisking behavior.
Biopsychology Program, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York 10021, USA.
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D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D006257:Head / Q000502:physiology; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014738:Vibrissae / Q000502:physiology*