Virtual Reality (VR) systems can be used with mice and rats to investigate brain functions during a multidude of different paradigms. The JetBall-TFT is a unique combination of a TFT monitor ring and the JetBall with interactive, optional operant devices. The JetBall, an air cushioned spherical treadmill allows an animal to navigate effortlessly in a virtual world. Brain function can be examined with electro-physiological, imaging and optogenetic methods while the animal performs tasks employing navigation, cognition, learning, decision making, or memory.
Key advantages are the flexibility of maze geometry, appearance, and interactions, as well as the speed of repetition: many exact task attempts can be recorded in a short time optimizing statistics.
Examples of neural dynamics during navigation and decision making in, e.g., a Corridor or T-Maze:
“The virtual reality system from Phenosys allows us to perform stable electrophysiological recordings with glass electrodes and silicon probes from mice running on a jet ball. The combination of visual, olfactory and auditory stimuli combined with an online read-out of behavioural actions makes this system an ideal tool to study neuronal circuits in the operating brain. We have been successfully using this system to study gamma oscillations, place cells and spatial navigation in the hippocampus (Lasztoczi and Klausberger, Neuron 2014; Lasztoczi and Klausberger, Neuron 2016).”
Prof. Dr. Thomas Klausberger (MedUni Wien, Austria)
Sun W, Choi I, Stoyanov S, Senkov O, Ponimaskin E, Winter Y, Pakan JMP, Dityatev A. (2021) Context value updating and multidimensional neuronal encoding in the retrosplenial cortex. Nature Communications.
Lasztoczi B, Klausberger T. (2014) Layer-Specific GABAergic Control of Distinct Gamma Oscillations in the CA1 Hippocampus. Neuron, 81: 1126-1139 read more
Fuhrmann F. et al., 2015. Locomotion, Theta Oscillations, and the Speed-Correlated Firing of Hippocampal Neurons Are Controlled by a Medial Septal Glutamatergic Circuit. Neuron 86: 1–12 read more
Lasztoczi B, Klausberger T. (2016) Hippocampal Place Cells Couple to Three Different Gamma Oscillations during Place Field Traversal. Neuron, 91: 34–40 read more
Open field, T-maze, Y-maze, Plus-maze …
Be creative! Construct your own mazes with our software development tools. Arbitrary geometries, textures, and changing cues are possible
Play video and audio files that are fully integrated in the JetBall-TFT VR.
Add odor to create complex worlds connecting smell and location.
Dynamic translation of movement to VR. Open and close virtual gates. Change wall textures dynamically.
Record movement and replay it to the animal.
Teleport animal to access multiple maze environments. Let them explore different mazes in one experiment.
| TFT Monitor Ring | |
|---|---|
| Screen arrangement | octagonal, six TFT sub-units |
| Viewing angle | 270°, from center position |
| Height | 44 cm |
| Weight | 30 kg |
| JetBall Spherical Treadmill, 20 cm for Mice | |
|---|---|
| Ball Holder lenght | 20 cm |
| Ball Holder width | 20 cm |
| Ball Holder height | 8 cm |
| Ball Holder height with ball (without air flow) | 21 cm |
| Ball Holder weight | 5.5 kg |
| Ball Holder material | Aluminium |
| Ball diameter | 20 cm |
| Ball material | Polystyrene |
| JetBall Spherical Treadmill, 30 cm for Rats (<300g) | |
|---|---|
| Ball Holder lenght | 30.2 cm |
| Ball Holder width | 30.2 cm |
| Ball Holder height | 12.0 cm |
| Ball Holder height with ball (without air flow) | 31.0 cm |
| Ball Holder weight | 19.8 kg |
| Ball Holder material | Aluminium |
| Ball diameter | 30 cm |
| Ball material | Polystyrene |
| Power | |
|---|---|
| Power input voltage | 100-240 V AC |
| Power consumption | 850 W (maximal), 500 W (typical) |
| Pressure Regulation | |
|---|---|
| Flow meter | 4-50 l/min, for experiments: 25 l/min |
| Pressure regulator | 6 bar (maximum), for experiments: 2 bar |
| Sound pressure level | 48-52 dBA (top of the ball, 1 cm distance from the ball, air flow 20 l/min) |
| Lick Sensor | |
|---|---|
| Material (outer cover) | Polyvinyl chloride |
| XY-Motion-Sensor | |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 200-5700 dpi |
| Max. speed | Up to 4.19 m/s |
| Peristaltic Pump | |
|---|---|
| Typical flow rate | 0.45 ml/min |
| Movable Rack | |
|---|---|
| Width | 59.5 cm |
| Depth | 62.0 cm |
| Height (without control monitor) | 98.5 cm |
| Category | Option | Description | In Basic Package included |
|---|---|---|---|
| JetBall Basic Package |
| TFT Monitor Surround System 270°, Spherical Treadmill (Ball Holder, two balls), Dual XY-Motion Sensor, movable rack, computer (pre-installed: PhenoSoft Control, PhenoSoft Schedule, PhenoSoft VR, Virtual Corridor 2 m, control monitor, keyboard, computer mouse, power supply unit, pressure regulator system (compressor is not included). |  |
| Virtual Mazes |
| Each maze is available with mode for free or linear run. |  |
| Ball Holder |
| Basic package includes one Ball Holder. | |
| Additional Ball Holder |
| For training or alternating use with mice and rats. | |
| Ball |
| Two balls are included in the Basic Package. | |
| Replacement Balls |
| | |
| Positive Reward |
| Retractable: position is adjustable, servo-driven. | |
| Negative Reward |
| Frontal air puff. | |
| Whisker Stimulation |
| Air flow when animal is approaching virtual walls. | |
| Brakes |
| To stop the spherical treadmill, e.g. at the end of a virtual corridor or after a wrong decision in a Y-maze | |
| Acoustic |
| E.g. to use a sound as a landmark. | |
| Odor |
| E.g. to combine an odor with a landmark. | |
| Decision Making |
| For standardized left/right decision making tasks | |
| Linear Treadmill |
| For voluntary linear motion | |
| Social Response |
| A smooth linear motion brings an interaction partner closer to the tested animal in a perfectly controlled way. | |
| Fixation System |
| For optogenetics, imaging or electrophysiology. | |
Overview of the JetBall-TFT System
JetBall Spherical Treadmill
Aluminium Ball Holder with polystyrene ball and the various operant modules (view from the top). The modules are highlighted in the following pictures.
Liquid Reward System
Mounted on the retractable operant device of the Ball Holder. A piezo-based lick sensor (Lick Sensor) is integrated into a cannula; there is an amplifier (black box with knob) with adjustable sensitivity.
Air Puff System
Mounted on the retractable operant device of the Ball Holder. It consists of a metal tube connected by plastic tubing to a valve. Tubing behind the valve connects to the flow meter and the compressed air system.
Brake System
With two lateral and a frontal servo-driven brake.
Whisker Stimulation
Consisting of two metal tubes mounted on articulated arms that are attached to the Ball Holder. Plastic tubing connects to the valves of the compressed air system.
Dual XY-Motion Sensor
Two xy-sensors measure the rotation of the polystyrene ball in x, y and z (yaw, pitch, roll).
Body Fixation
Ball Holder (view from the side) with holder for fixing the mouse (on the right side).
Control Unit with Movable Rack
PhenoSoft Control – User Interface
Basic experimental control software used with all products by PhenoSys. Control of hardware components.
PhenoSoft Control – Log File
The log file containing the experimental data is written in a CSV format and is automatically saved.
PhenoSoft Schedule
Experimental schedules are defined with the help of state diagrams by using predefined activities from PhenoSoft.
JetBall with customized TFT surround monitor ring.
Double door configuration, partially opened.
Customized solution for 2-photon microscope
TFT ring with double doors. The two central screens are foldable and allow easy access to the interior of the TFT-monitor ring.
TFT monitor ring with double doors and VR display. Fully opened.
Femtonics Integration
JetBall-TFT for mice with a Femto2D microscope from the company Femtonics.
Olympus Integration
JetBall-TFT for mice (20cm ball) with a FVMPE-RS from Olympus.
Booth Olympus, FOM 2015.
SocialEncounter add-on.
A smooth linear motion brings an interaction partner closer to the tested animal in a perfectly controlled way.
