title: Mapping Sub-Second Structure in Mouse Behavior.
abstract: Complex animal behaviors are likely built from simpler modules, but their systematic identification in mammals remains a significant challenge. Here we use depth imaging to show that 3D mouse pose dynamics are structured at the sub-second timescale. Computational modeling of these fast dynamics effectively describes mouse behavior as a series of reused and stereotyped modules with defined transition probabilities. We demonstrate this combined 3D imaging and machine learning method can be used to unmask potential strategies employed by the brain to adapt to the environment, to capture both predicted and previously hidden phenotypes caused by genetic or neural manipulations, and to systematically expose the global structure of behavior within an experiment. This work reveals that mouse body language is built from identifiable components and is organized in a predictable fashion; deciphering this language establishes an objective framework for characterizing the influence of environmental cues, genes and neural activity on behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Alexander B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Wiltschko
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Giuliano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iurilli
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Ralph E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Jesse M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Katon
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Stan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Pashkovski
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Victoria E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Abraira
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: srdatta@hms.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Sandeep Robert
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Datta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D003198:Computer Simulation; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D007697:Kinesics; D000069550:Machine Learning; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D062308:Optogenetics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*