OptoDrum
Striatech's OptoDrum automatically determines the visual abilities of mice and rats. Based on the optomotor reflex, the OptoDrum's fully automated and reliable analysis finds visual acuity and contrast sensitivity quickly and objectively.
The OptoDrum: Briefly explained
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I cannot tell you how happy I am to have the OptoDrum. The fact that it is easy to use and it relies on an unbiased method to determine ‘yes’ or ‘no’ decisions for mouse behavior helps a lot in designing and conducting experiments.Dr. Abdoulaye Sene, Genentech
The results are finally objective. Until now, it was difficult or even impossible to compare data collected by different users.Prof. Volker Enzmann, University Bern, Switzerland
The OptoDrum has a user friendly and sturdy design. It is incredibly easy to use and delivers results right away. On top of this, Striatech provides great support!Prof. Marius Ader, TU Dresden
Background: Measuring rodent vision with innate reflex-behavior
All animals have reflexes that help to stabilize the image of the moving environment in their eyes. For example, if a person looks out the window of a moving train her eyes automatically follow the landscape. These compensatory eye movements are caused by the so-called optokinetic reflex. Many animals also have the optomotor reflex which triggers compensatory head movements.
These compensatory eye and head movements are only triggered if the moving stimulus can be seen by the animal. Thus, observing these innate reflexes can be used as a quantatative readout for visual performance needs of animals. In mice and rats, observing the optomotor reflex is particulary convenient: it does not require fixation or surgery, because the corresponding behavior can be observed macroscopically.
OptoDrum: Functioning and Software
In the OptoDrum, the animal sits on an elevated platform, surrounded by computer monitors. A camera observes the behavior of the animal from above. We trigger the optomotor reflex with a black-and-white stripe pattern on the screens that rotates around the animal. By making the stripe pattern more difficult, one eventually reaches the threshold of the animal's vision and the reflex is not triggered anymore. This allows to determine the animal's visual acuity (by making the stripes finer) or contrast sensitivity (by reducing the contrast of the stripes).
This process is fully automated in the OptoDrum. The OptoDrum’s software easily guides you through the measurements. You can keep full control over the testing protocol, or you can let the OptoDrum determine your animal's visual threshold completely automatically.
The following picture gallery illustrates important concepts:
Overview of OptoDrum function
The projected stripe pattern on the screens has the appearance of a round drum. It is continuously and automatically adjusted so that the animal is in the drum's center, to keep the angular width of the stripes constant.
A mouse inside the OptoDrum
The software gives you an immediate overview of the animal's behavior and the results of the experiment. While everything can be automated, you can have control of all aspects of the experiment if you wish.
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Accessories
ScotopicKit
Extend the applications of your OptoDrum to investigate light- or dark-adaptation and the functional contribution of rod photoreceptors to vision.
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DarkAdapt
Dark-adapt your animals in preparation for scotopic experiments. DarkAdapt can also be used to transport animals between your dark adaptation room and experimental room.
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Animal Platforms
Additional animal platforms for the OptoDrum.
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