A novel turning behavior control method for rat-robot through the stimulation of ventral posteromedial thalamic nucleus

Kedi Xu; Jiacheng Zhang; Hong Zhou; Ji Chao Tristan Lee; Xiaoxiang Zheng

doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2015.11.002

A novel turning behavior control method for rat-robot through the stimulation of ventral posteromedial thalamic nucleus

Behav Brain Res. 2016 Feb 1;298(Pt B):150-7. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2015.11.002. Epub 2015 Nov 11.

Authors

Kedi Xu¹, Jiacheng Zhang², Hong Zhou², Ji Chao Tristan Lee³, Xiaoxiang Zheng⁴

Affiliations

¹ Qiushi Academy for Advanced Studies (QAAS), Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Education Ministry, Zhejiang University, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardio-Cerebral Vascular Detection Technology and Medicinal Effectiveness Appraisal, China. Electronic address: xukd@zju.edu.cn.
² Qiushi Academy for Advanced Studies (QAAS), Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Education Ministry, Zhejiang University, China.
³ Qiushi Academy for Advanced Studies (QAAS), Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China; Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
⁴ Qiushi Academy for Advanced Studies (QAAS), Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Education Ministry, Zhejiang University, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardio-Cerebral Vascular Detection Technology and Medicinal Effectiveness Appraisal, China.

PMID: 26546880
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2015.11.002

Abstract

The concept of a rat-robot was initially introduced in 2002, bringing to the field, a novel area of research using modern research into neuroscience and robotics. This paper brings to the table, a study into the method best used for navigation systems in a rat-robot. Current research is epitomized by the use of reward-based spatial navigation, combining the concept of an induced reward sensation as well as a 'virtual touch' sensation to control the movement of the rat-robot. However, such methods are plagued by limitations affecting the success rate as well as preparation procedures which may have varying effects on different rats, even under similar conditions. Hence, this paper studies the stimulation of two different portions of the brain to induce a turning motion within the rat, namely the Ventral Posteromedial (VPM) thalamic nucleus as well as the Barrel-Field (BF) cortex and demonstrates the preferential usage of VPM as the choice use of navigational control in a rat-robot.

Keywords: Rat-robot; Turning behavior control; Ventral posteromedial thalamic nucleus.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Electric Stimulation / methods*
Implantable Neurostimulators
Male
Motor Activity / physiology*
Neurons / physiology*
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Robotics*
Ventral Thalamic Nuclei / physiology*