Tools for assessing shared sensory experience in interacting mice.

用于评估交互小鼠的共享感官体验的工具。

• 批准号: RGPIN-2022-03723
• 负责人: Murphy, Timothy
• 金额: $ 4.01万
• 依托单位: University of British Columbia
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=763666
• 关键词: Tools; assessing; shared; sensory; experience

Objectives: Over the long term we develop new approaches and knowledge around mechanisms by which brain activity in specific circuits is linked to animal behaviors. Over the next 5 years we extend our novel paradigms which assess the brain activity of two mice simultaneously while quantifying features of their behavior. Our data have led us to focus on the mouse whisker system as a key sensory modality for behavioral interaction. We propose that mutual whisker contact that occurs between mice may provide a signal for linking brain activity between subjects. We aim to understand the link between mutual whisker sensory experience and entrainment of inter-subject brain activity. To accomplish this goal in parallel we develop novel behavioral analysis tools that are enabled by a synthetic mouse model. Our methods report aspects of mouse behavior using automated video analysis tools that are trained using a synthetic data augmentation strategy. This Discovery 5 year research program will use synthetic data augmentation and new brain imaging tools to leverage information about shared sensory whisker experience during mouse behavioral interaction. However, no study has tracked all whiskers in 2 interacting mice. We will use a synthetic animated mouse to train next generation algorithms to track all whiskers simultaneously; the model will also evaluate facial features such as pupil diameter and movement. This synthetic approach provides greater flexibility for model training since whisker identity is known from ground truth model-dependent data and more precise pupil dynamics can be simulated and thus better related to on-going brain activity. Importance: The neural basis of shared experiences between subjects represents an important open question. Inter-brain synchrony has been studied in human subjects, but few animal models exist.  Our approach is to use dual brain imaging and a constrained behavioral interaction between mice to identify features of brain activity that are unique. Examination of mutual whisker movements where mice probe each other with alternating bouts of whisking is a behavioral signature associated with high inter-subject brain synchrony. On a larger scale, we test the ability of synthetic animals to provide training data to address relevant biological questions. These studies support our long term goal of probing the brain circuits underlying specific features of animal behaviour. Impact: Both within-field and Canadian impact of our work that brings novel computing tools to neuroscience. We provide new knowledge on brain circuitry underlying behavioral interaction as well as detailed synthetic mouse models for facial features (whiskers and the pupil) that are tightly linked to a high-proportion of on-going brain activity. As well, we will train the next generation of scientists engaging HQPs on all levels within a rich and interactive setting that incorporates physical science approaches and links to basic animal behavior.

目标：从长远来看，我们将围绕特定回路中的大脑活动与动物行为联系起来的机制开发新的方法和知识。在接下来的5年里，我们扩展了我们的新范式，同时评估两只老鼠的大脑活动，同时量化它们的行为特征。我们的数据使我们把重点放在鼠标须系统作为行为相互作用的关键感觉方式。我们提出，小鼠之间发生的相互触须接触可能为连接受试者之间的大脑活动提供了信号。我们的目的是了解相互须状感觉体验和主体间大脑活动的夹带之间的联系。为了同时实现这一目标，我们开发了一种新的行为分析工具，这种工具是由合成小鼠模型实现的。我们的方法使用使用合成数据增强策略训练的自动视频分析工具报告鼠标行为的各个方面。这项为期5年的研究计划将使用合成数据增强和新的脑成像工具来利用小鼠行为交互过程中共享的感觉须体验信息。然而，没有一项研究追踪了两只相互作用的老鼠的所有胡须。我们将使用合成动画鼠标来训练下一代算法，以同时跟踪所有胡须；该模型还将评估瞳孔直径和运动等面部特征。这种综合方法为模型训练提供了更大的灵活性，因为从依赖于基础真实模型的数据中可以知道胡须身份，并且可以模拟更精确的瞳孔动态，从而更好地与正在进行的大脑活动相关。重要性：受试者之间共享经验的神经基础是一个重要的开放性问题。脑间同步已经在人类实验对象中进行了研究，但很少有动物模型。我们的方法是使用双脑成像和小鼠之间的约束行为相互作用来识别大脑活动的独特特征。对相互须运动的研究表明，小鼠通过交替的须运动来探测彼此，这是一种与高主体间大脑同步相关的行为特征。在更大的范围内，我们测试了合成动物提供训练数据的能力，以解决相关的生物学问题。这些研究支持了我们探索动物行为特定特征背后的大脑回路的长期目标。影响：我们的工作为神经科学带来了新颖的计算工具，对本行业和加拿大的影响。我们提供了关于行为相互作用下的大脑回路的新知识，以及面部特征（胡须和瞳孔）的详细合成小鼠模型，这些特征与正在进行的大脑活动的高比例紧密相关。此外，我们将在丰富的互动环境中培训下一代科学家，在各个层面上参与hqp，将物理科学方法与基本动物行为联系起来。