Collaborative Research: CIBR: The OpenBehavior Project

近年来，神经科学领域受益于计算机语言Python等开源工具，3D打印的现成方法，Arduino等低成本微控制器以及GitHub等计算机代码和硬件设计的公共存储库。许多实验室都在使用这些工具，但大多数实验室并不共享它们的代码和设计。因此，不可能系统地跟踪开放源码工具的使用及其修订，也没有开放源码工具或基准材料（如动物行为的视频记录）的中央储存库。该奖项将允许通过为神经科学领域使用的开源研究工具创建数据库以及使用这些工具的基准和培训材料库来解决这些问题。该项目的具体目标是为神经科学研究中使用的开源工具创建一个分类法，使用该分类法创建和管理开源工具数据库，包括为数据库中的所有工具创建研究资源标识符（RRID），并传播有关开源工具的信息以及使用它们所需的技能。初始资助期（目标3）的一个特别重点将是近年来非常流行的动物行为视频分析方法。第三个目标的活动包括创建一个常用行为任务视频记录数据库，使用一组通用基准视频（通过该项目开发）进行开放数据分析竞赛，以及开发培训材料和关于制作和使用用于神经科学研究的最流行开源工具的面对面和虚拟研讨会。该项目的更广泛影响将是通过OpenBehavior网站（https：//edspace.american.edu/openbehavior），社交媒体以及参与神经科学协会（SfN）赞助的宣传和外展活动来提高公众对神经科学研究的认识。该项目将通过SfN赞助的Neuronline论坛中的专门和主持的讨论主题促进开源工具的讨论，并为年度SfN会议的与会者提供有关开源工具的策划行程。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

In recent years, the field of neuroscience has benefited from open source tools such as the computer language Python, off-the-shelf methods for 3D printing, low-cost microcontrollers such as Arduino, and public repositories for computer code and hardware designs such as GitHub. Many labs are using these tools, but most do not share their code and designs. As a result, it is not possible to systematically track the use of open source tools and their revisions and there is no central repository for open source tools or benchmark materials, such as video recordings of animal behavior. This award will allow these issues to be addressed by creating a database for open source research tools used in the field of neuroscience as well as a repository of benchmark and training materials for using the tools. The specific aims of the project are to create a taxonomy for open source tools used in neuroscience research, use the taxonomy to create and curate a database of open source tools, including creating Research Resource Identifiers (RRIDs) for all tools in the database, and disseminate information on open source tools and the skills required to use them. A special focus of the initial funding period (Aim 3) will be methods for video analysis of animal behavior, which are extremely popular in recent years. Activities in the third aim include creation of a database of video recordings of commonly used behavioral tasks, an open data analysis competition using a common set of benchmark videos (developed through the project), and the development of training materials and in-person and virtual workshops on making and using the most popular open source tools used for neuroscience research. Broader impacts of this project will be to increase public awareness of neuroscience research through the OpenBehavior website (https://edspace.american.edu/openbehavior), social media, and participation in Society for Neuroscience (SfN) sponsored advocacy and outreach events. The project will facilitate discussions of open source tools through a dedicated and moderated discussion topic in the SfN sponsored Neuronline forums and provide curated itineraries on open source tools for attendees of the annual SfN meeting.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.