Long-term Sensory Conflict in Freely Behaving Mice

Abstract

Long-term sensory conflict protocols are a valuable means of studying motor learning. The presented protocol produces a persistent sensory conflict for experiments aimed at studying long-term learning in mice. By permanently wearing a device fixed on their heads, mice are continuously exposed to a sensory mismatch between visual and vestibular inputs while freely moving in home cages. Therefore, this protocol readily enables the study of the visual system and multisensory interactions over an extended timeframe that would not be accessible otherwise. In addition to lowering the experimental costs of long-term sensory learning in naturally behaving mice, this approach accommodates the combination of in vivo and in vitro experiments. In the reported example, video-oculography is performed to quantify the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) and optokinetic reflex (OKR) before and after learning. Mice exposed to this long-term sensory conflict between visual and vestibular inputs presented a strong VOR gain decrease but exhibited few OKR changes. Detailed steps of device assembly, animal care, and reflex measurements are hereby reported.

Extended time frame for restoring inner ear function through gene therapy in Usher1G preclinical model

“…The experimental set-up, apparatus and data acquisition mechanisms were as previously described (35,36). For pupil position recording with the head fixed, a head post was implanted in the skull of the animal at least 48 hours before vestibular exploration, following the methodology previously described (37). All eye movements were recorded in the dark with an infrared video system (ETL-200, ISCAN), using noninvasive video-oculography methods to record pupil and corneal reflection position.…”

Subchronic alteration of vestibular hair cells in mice: implications for multisensory gaze stabilization

“…Surgical procedures, postoperative care, device fixation and animal surveillance during the protocol were performed as described previously in França de Barros et al, 2019Barros et al, , 2020 Briefly, mice anaesthetized with isoflurane gas had their heads shaved with small clippers.…”

“…Surgical procedures, postoperative care, device fixation and animal surveillance during the protocol were performed as described previously in França de Barros et al, 2019Barros et al, , 2020 Briefly, 6-weeks-old mice anaesthetized with isoflurane gas had their heads shaved with small clippers. Then, lidocaine hydrochloride (2%; 2mg/Kg) was injected locally before a longitudinal incision of 1.5 cm was made to expose the skull.…”