The battery design of the BlueBerry device enables its use in large-scale, complex environments for optogenetic studies. We used BlueBerry with a multichannel flexible implant to bilaterally target the sensory barrel field, delivering optogenetic stimulation to create artificial sensory cues. Tracking the mice in real-time, we determined the future direction at each maze intersection. Choosing the correct path rewarded them with water at the middle of the arm connecting two intersections. This required freely moving mice to integrate the sensory information to make navigation decisions (turn left or right) in the maze.
An important aspect of wireless optogenetics is its application in social settings, enabling targeted stimulation in multiple animals simultaneously. We utilized the BlueBerry device to activate the brain reward circuit (ventral tegmental area, VTA) using fiber-coupled LED implants in multiple mice. Stimulation was triggered upon the initiation of chasing behavior directed towards a conspecific higher in the dominance hierarchy. By implementing this in a closed-loop system with real-time tracking, we were able to modulate social dynamics, resulting in the formation of a moving train led by the most dominant animal in the cage.
