At Cornell University, a team of researchers has taken a leap forward in the world of virtual reality by creating ‘MouseGoggles,’ a tiny VR headset equipped with eye-tracking technology designed specifically for mice. This innovative device has paved the way for more detailed exploration of mouse behavior during neural studies.
In the realm of small-animal VR systems, many have struggled with issues like size and lack of features such as eye-tracking. But with MouseGoggles, highlighted in a recent publication, Cornell scientists aim to delve deeper into the workings of the mouse brain. The mouse has long served as a fundamental model in behavioral and neurological research, and this new tool promises to enhance understanding.
The team validated their findings by monitoring neural activity in the visual cortex, confirming the clarity and effectiveness of presented images. Their results indicated that the VR headset successfully crafted an immersive setting, as demonstrated by recordings from the hippocampus, tests on reward-based learning, and reactions to virtual threats.
This groundbreaking project was spearheaded by Chris Schaffer, a professor of biomedical engineering, and Ian Ellwood, an assistant professor in neurobiology and behavior. They aspire to encourage wider incorporation of VR methodologies within neuroscience studies.
“It’s a rare opportunity, when building tools, that you can make something that is experimentally much more powerful than current technology, and that is also simpler and cheaper to build,” shared Matthew Isaacson, a postdoctoral researcher, in an interview with Cornell Chronicle. “It’s bringing more experimental power to neuroscience, and it’s a much more accessible version of the technology, so it could be used by a lot more labs.”
What stands out about MouseGoggles is that they were assembled using inexpensive, readily available parts, such as smartwatch screens and tiny lenses, creating a compact and practical system. The team employed common tools like the Godot game engine and a Raspberry Pi 4, cleverly setting up a split-screen display driver to bring it all together.
The ultimate goal of this research could spark more interest in developing lightweight, independent VR headsets for larger rodents like tree shrews and rats. For now, MouseGoggles offer a fixed viewpoint experience achieved through the use of a ball-shaped treadmill to simulate movement. Future enhancements may include sensory elements such as taste and smell, further enriching the virtual climate.
Chris Schaffer remarked to the Cornell Chronicle, “I think five-sense virtual reality for mice is a direction to go for experiments where we’re trying to understand these really complicated behaviors, where mice are integrating sensory information, comparing the opportunity with internal motivational states, like the need for rest and food, and then making decisions about how to behave.”
