Abstract
Here, we present the use of ethoscopes, which are machines for high-throughput analysis of behavior in Drosophila and other animals. Ethoscopes provide a software and hardware solution that is reproducible and easily scalable. They perform, in real-time, tracking and profiling of behavior by using a supervised machine learning algorithm, are able to deliver behaviorally triggered stimuli to flies in a feedback-loop mode, and are highly customizable and open source. Ethoscopes can be built easily by using 3D printing technology and rely on Raspberry Pi microcomputers and Arduino boards to provide affordable and flexible hardware. All software and construction specifications are available at http://lab.gilest.ro/ethoscope.
Highlights
Understanding how behavior is coordinated by the brain is one of the ultimate goals of neuroscience
An ethoscope is a self-contained machine able to either record or detect in real-time the activity of fruit flies using computerised video-tracking. It relies on an independent small single-board computer, Raspberry Pi [20], and a high-definition camera to capture and process infrared-illuminated video up to a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels, at 30 frames per second (FPS, Fig 1A)
Ethoscopes are assembled in a 3D-printed chassis and, with cables, they have an approximate footprint of 10 x 13 x 19 cm (Fig 1B and S1 Fig)
Summary
Understanding how behavior is coordinated by the brain is one of the ultimate goals of neuroscience. Much of modern neurobiology focuses on finding the genes and the neuronal circuits underlying simple and complex behaviors alike, aiming to describe and eventually understand how the brain processes sensory inputs into motor outputs. For many years, starting from Seymour Benzer’s seminal work [1], the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has been considered one of the model organisms of choice to dissect the genetics of behavior. Drosophila has emerged as an excellent model for studying the genes but the neuronal circuitry of behavior too: the combination of a rapidly delineating connectome together with an unrivalled repertoire of genetic tools has established D. melanogaster as one of the most promising animal models to study neuronal circuits. Optogenetics, thermogenetics, a genome-wide collection of RNA interference (RNAi) lines, and a plethora of crafted and carefully described GAL4 lines, constitute a robust arsenal for neurobiologists interested
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