Artificial intelligence in neuroscience, Cognition and behavior

Publication date: 12/12/2024

Authors: Isaacson, M., Chang, H., Berkowitz, L. et al.

Journal: Nat Methods 22, 380–385 (2025)

Commentary: The study by Isaacson et al. introduces MouseGoggles, a compact, head-mounted virtual reality (VR) system for head-fixed mice that achieves a level of immersivity and functionality previously limited to larger, projector-based setups. Validation experiments demonstrate that the monocular display produces negligible stray light contamination during two-photon calcium imaging, and elicits orientation , direction , spatial frequency and contrast-tuned responses in V1 layer 2/3 neurons indistinguishable from traditional monitor presentations. Furthermore, hippocampal recordings on a spherical treadmill reveal robust place cell activity, with field sizes and information rates comparable to projector VR, confirming effective spatial encoding in the immersive VR environment. Beyond sensory validation, the authors show that MouseGoggles supports both learned and innate behaviors: mice rapidly acquire spatially guided licking for rewards at defined virtual locations over a 5 day training protocol with significant anticipatory licking in reward zones, and naïve animals display startle responses to looming stimuli - responses absent in non headset VR and which extinguish upon repetition - demonstrating an immersive VR experience. The EyeTrack variant integrates infrared cameras for binocular eye and pupil tracking, enabling simultaneous measurement of gaze shifts and pupil dynamics in VR, tools critical for dissecting sensorimotor and arousal states during behaviour. Altogether, MouseGoggles' miniaturised, open-source design, high-performance rendering, and modularity promise broad adoption, scalability, and novel experimental paradigms, paving the way for immersive, multisensory VR studies in small animals.

Commented by: Nicholas Pintori (22/07/2025)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41592-024-02540-y