tf4ong / spt

Automated sucrose preference test in home cage

Home-cage Sucrose Preference Test

A scipt to run a chronic automated sucrose preference test of mice in home cage. The script is ran on a raspberry-pi with internet connection. A sucrose preference tunnel is attached to a rodent cage. The tunnel consists of a RFID reader for mouse identification, two double spouts for liquid dispension, capacitive touch sensor for lick detection, selenoids for reward delivery, IR light, and a fish-lens camera for behavior monitoring. An updated hardware list and setup instructions will be uploaded shortly.

MySql Database for Data Storage

• All behaviroal data (entries, exits, spout licked, type of reward dispensed) are logged on to the raspberry-pi MySql database.
• The database is also hosted by Apache HTTP Sever(version 2.4.43) and can be accessed through the internet
• Subsequent analytical scripts will also be uploaded

RFID Identification

• A ID-20LA RFID tag reader will be at the beginning of the SPT tunnel to identify each mouse

Spout choice At the of the Sucrose Preference Test Tunnel

• At the end of the tunnel there are two double spouts on each side
• The mouse and the spouts are spearted by a customed cut acrylic plastic (one hole corresponds to one double spout)
• A reward water/sucrose water is dispensed for every n links at each double spout. The n number of licks can be set accordingly
• Every 24 hour, the side which dispenses water/sucrose is swaped for the specific mouse

Design and Layout of the Sucrose Preference Tunnel

CAD Parts Assembly

Some Preliminary Videos

Mouse Licking Spouts For Rewards In The Sucrose Preference Test Tunnel

Mouse Licking Right Spout	Mouse Licking Left Spout