Individualized tracking of self-directed motor learning in group-housed mice performing a skilled lever positioning task in the home cage

Skilled forelimb function in mice is traditionally studied through behavioural paradigms that require extensive training by investigators, and are limited by the number of trials individual animals are able to perform within supervised session. We developed a skilled lever positioning task that mice can perform within their home cage. The task requires mice to use their forelimb to precisely hold a lever mounted on a rotary encoder within a rewarded position in order to dispense a water reward. A Raspberry Pi microcomputer is used to record lever position during trials, and to control task parameters, thus making this low-footprint apparatus ideal for use within animal housing facilities. Custom Python software automatically increments task difficulty by requiring a longer hold duration, or a more accurate hold position in order to dispense a reward. The performance of individual animals within group-housed mice is tracked through RFID implants, and data stored on the microcomputer may be accessed remotely through an active internet connection. Mice continuously engage in the task for over 2.5 months, and perform ~500 trials/24 hrs. Mice required approximately 15,000 trials to learn to hold the lever within a 10° range for 1.5s, and were able to further refine movement accuracy by limiting their error to a 5° range within each trial. These results demonstrate the feasibility of autonomously training group housed mice on a forelimb motor task. This paradigm may be used in the future to assess functional recovery after injury or cortical reorganization induced by self-directed motor learning.

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